Impact of cultural practices on physical activity and health among school boys

Abstract

Background of the study: Investigating how local cultural practices and traditions in the Purvanchal region influence physical activity, diet, and lifestyle choices among children, and how these practices affect BMI and PFI. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore how cultural beliefs and practices influence schoolboys' physical activity levels and overall health. Materials and Methods: This study involved 400 schoolboys aged 12-16 from 10 schools in Alipurduar, West Bengal, with equal representation from government and private schools. Participants were grouped into four age categories: 12-13 years (41), 13-14 years (115), 14-15 years (145), and 15-16 years (99). The purposive sampling method was used to select students, focusing on key measurements such as height, weight, BMI, and HST. Data was collected between July and September 2022-23. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and a one-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test was used to assess and identify significant differences in BMI and PFI between age groups, with a significance level of p