Social well-being in internal physicians: The triad body composition, sleep quality and physical activity

Abstract

The health of undergraduate medical interns is a key concern, given their demanding schedules and academic stress, which can impact their body composition, sleep quality, and physical activity level. The objective of this research was to analyze body composition, sleep quality, and physical activity among medical interns at the “Dr. Alberto Romo Caballero” School of Medicine of Tampico, Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical interns between 18 and 25 years of age, excluding those with pathological conditions that affect body composition. Anthropometric variables were measured, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was applied. A total of 135 medical interns were included, with a mean age of 22.87 years; 60.7% were women and 39.3% were men. The majority of participants had poor sleep quality (82.2%). In terms of body composition, women showed a significantly higher percentage of body fat than men. Furthermore, 45.9% of inmates were highly physically active, with a predominance of women. It is concluded that there is a significant association between the variables, necessitating the implementation of health promotion strategies that comprehensively address social well-being.