Body mass index, level and reasons to do physical activity in university students

A comparative descriptive study was conducted with 563 students of Autonomous University ofZacatecas «Francisco Garcia Salinas» aimed at determining body mass index, level and reasons for the practice of physical activity among the university students of the above institution. According to the body mass index, the 21, 5 % was overweight and more that the 10 % presented some degree of obesity; the 29, 7 % was at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The 41,2 % of students practiced one or different sports, the 91,2 % practiced them for more than half an hour daily and, of them, only the 30,5 % practiced at least five days a week. The principal reasons to do exercises were health, fun, to pass the time, pleasure and esthetic.