# Relationship Between Physical Fitness Index and Body Mass Index: A Cross-Sectional Study in Serbian Students of Biomedical Sciences

## TL;DR

This study found a strong negative relationship between physical fitness and body mass index among Serbian biomedical students.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence of poor physical fitness and its correlation with BMI in a specific student population.

## Key findings

- A strong negative correlation (Pearson −0.720) was found between physical fitness index and body mass index.
- Most students had low-average or poor physical fitness levels.
- The chi-square test confirmed a significant association between physical fitness and BMI.

## Abstract

Objectives: Physical fitness is vital to sustaining the health of each individual and represents the level of readiness that allows them to perform everyday activities with sufficient energy. The aim of this research was to assess the physical fitness index and to determine its relationship with body composition. Methods: This research included 121 students of the State University of Novi Pazar, Serbia. The modified Harvard step test was used to assess physical fitness, and the body mass index was used to assess body composition. Results: Statistical analysis indicated that the physical fitness of students was not significantly satisfactory, given the large percentage of students with low-average and poor levels of physical fitness. A strong negative correlation between physical fitness index and body mass index was shown by Pearson (−0.720) and Spearman (−0.659) correlation coefficients with a p-value < 0.001. The results of the chi-square test (χ2(3) = 88.94, p < 0.001) also confirm this correlation. Conclusions: This study indicates widespread poor physical fitness among students and highlights the importance of regular exercise as a key factor for improving physical abilities. Given the relatively high prevalence of suboptimal prevalence of suboptimal physical fitness among university students, our findings represent a critical wake-up call for public health authorities, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions to reverse this trend and safeguard the health potential of the next generation.