Assessment of Lifestyle Behaviours among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Private Medical College: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37018/ZKQM4572Keywords:
Lifestyle, Health Behavior, Students, MedicalAbstract
Background: A healthy lifestyle is key to preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, responsible for 74% of deaths worldwide. In Pakistan, 3.87 million deaths related to NCDs are projected in 2025. Reducing risk factors could lower mortality by 20%. This study aimed to assess the lifestyle behaviours of undergraduate students across multiple dimensions, including diet, physical activity, substance use, stress management, sleep, social support, and environmental exposure.
Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted at CMH Lahore Medical College (CMHLMC), a private institute in Lahore, Pakistan, from August to December 2023. A sample size of 377 was calculated using the WHO sample size calculator, with an estimated prevalence of 50%, a 5% margin of error, and a 95% confidence level. Data was collected via convenience sampling from MBBS, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences students. The Malay version of the Multidimensional Inventory of Lifestyle Evaluation Confinement (SMILE-C) scale was used for data collection.
Results: The majority (n= 295, 78.3%) had a good, healthy lifestyle, and another 13.9% had an excellent lifestyle. There was a borderline significant difference in lifestyle between genders (p-value = 0.05). Almost 70% students ate processed food, 56.7% ate junk food, and less than half (41.75%) exercised regularly. Sleep habits were compromised as well, with only 53.8% getting adequate sleep and 88.8% using a smartphone within an hour of going to sleep.
Conclusions: While the majority showed a healthy overall lifestyle, a high prevalence of unhealthy habits, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, indicates a need for improvement.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, Shireen Rafeeq, Tahira Raza, Harum Zaib Chatha, Khaulah Mahmood
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