Grado de sedentarismo y sus causas en los estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca 2014

Background: Frequent and regular physical activity produces numerous health benefits. On the other hand, physical inactivity is a public health problem because the body is prone to various diseases, considered as the fourth risk factor for overall mortality according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (1). General Objective: Determine the degree of physical inactivity and its causes in the students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Cuenca. Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study on 428 students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Cuenca, on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was applied to classify the activity as low, moderate and intense was performed. Sedentary lifestyle also causes were investigated. Results: 43.2% of students are sedentary belonging most of them to the School of Medical Technology. Of the students surveyed, 71% were female. Finally the cause most prevalent with 34.8%, physical inactivity was lack of time. Conclusion: There is a high degree of sedentary students in our faculty, with predominance in the school of Medical Technology and females. Corrective measures will hopefully be taken and implemented plans to help promote healthy lifestyles, considering physical activity as an essential part of primary care in health and disease prevention.