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Healthy dietary practices, adequate sleep duration, and regular physical activity are associated with lower BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels in nursing intern students.

In a cross-sectional study of 801 nursing intern students, healthy lifestyle patterns including adequate sleep, regular physical activity, and healthy diet were significantly associated with lower BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat. Physical activity showed the strongest inverse association with BMI (r = -0.447, β = -0.389), and the regression model explained 52% of BMI variance (R² = 0.52, F = 48.72, p < 0.001).

Last updated: Aug 25, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Cross-sectional study assessing the association between lifestyle patterns and body composition among nursing intern students.

observational

Huwaikem MA, Bano R · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: N/A
Outcome: Body composition indicators: BMI, body fat percentage, fat-free muscle mass, visceral fat level
Effect Size: r = -0.447 for physical activity and BMI; β = -0.389
Population: Nursing intern students (n=801)

Result:

PubMed: 42626626DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1892928

Mechanism Graph

Healthy lifestyle behaviors (diet, sleep, physical activity) are associated with lower adiposity
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Physical activity likely increases energy expenditure and improves metabolic health
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Adequate sleep may regulate appetite hormones and reduce cravings
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Healthy diet reduces caloric intake and improves nutrient profile
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Result: Lower BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or temporal relationships
  • ⚠Self-reported lifestyle behaviors may introduce recall and social desirability bias
  • ⚠Sample limited to nursing intern students, limiting generalizability to other populations

Frequently Asked Questions

What lifestyle factors were associated with lower body fat in nursing students?▼

Healthy dietary practices, adequate sleep duration, and regular physical activity were significantly associated with lower BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat levels.

Which lifestyle behavior had the strongest association with BMI?▼

Physical activity demonstrated the strongest inverse association with BMI (r = -0.447; β = -0.389).

What unhealthy habits were linked to higher adiposity?▼

Frequent fast-food consumption, sugary drink intake, and breakfast skipping were significantly associated with higher BMI and adiposity indicators.

How much variance in BMI did the lifestyle model explain?▼

The regression model explained approximately 52% of the variance in BMI (R² = 0.52), with the model being statistically significant (F = 48.72, p < 0.001).

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References

  1. 1.Huwaikem MA, Bano R. "Cross-sectional study assessing the association between lifestyle patterns and body composition among nursing intern students.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42626626 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1892928
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.