Assessment of physical activity levels and nicotine dependence among university students

Abstract

The prevalence of smoking is decreasing but the relative proportion of nicotine dependent smokers is increasing and rates of nicotine dependence vary in different sociodemographic groups in the population. The physical activity levels and smoking have inverse relationship never less there is not enough data about physical activity levels in nicotine dependence. The aim of this study was to compare the physical activity levels of young subjects who smoke cigarette according to their nicotine dependence. Material and Method. This cross-sectional study was conducted among volunteer students in Pamukkale University and Dumlupınar University. Four hundred and twenty-nine smoking subjects were included in the study. The subjects were divided into three groups according to level of dependence as Group 1: high nicotine dependence (FTND score 7-10), Group 2: moderate level of nicotine dependence (FTND score 4-6) Group 3: low dependence (FTND score 0-3). The 3 groups were compared according to physical activity levels. The Turkish version of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) test was used for assessing nicotine dependence. Physical activity levels were determined by the Turkish version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - International Physical Activity Questionnaire).
Results. Two hundred and thirty-seven male, 197 female smoking subjects composed university students of were included in this study. There was a significant difference between groups in terms of total physical activity, walking, moderate, vigorous activities (p<0.95) but any difference was not found in terms of sitting (p>0.05). The high nicotine dependence group had the lowest activity levels and the highest sitting score.
Conclusion. Nicotine dependence may be a factor that affects physical activity among young people.

Key words:

physical activity, smoking, student