The Impact of Body Weight on the Physical Performance of Health Care Students at Gulf Medical University

Abstract

Background: Healthcare professionals perform physically demanding tasks requiring sustained energy and functional capacity. Body weight, typically assessed using body mass index (BMI), may influence physical self-efficacy (PSE), an important determinant of clinical performance. However, evidence from healthcare student populations, particularly in the Gulf region, remains limited. Objective: To investigate the association between BMI and PSE among undergraduate healthcare students at Gulf Medical University (GMU), United Arab Emirates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2024 involving 211 students aged 18–25 years from five academic programs. Anthropometric measurements were used to calculate BMI, classified into underweight, normal, and overweight/obese categories according to WHO standards. PSE was assessed using the validated 22-item Physical Self-Efficacy Scale. Scores were dichotomized at the median (77) into low and high self-efficacy groups. Chi-square tests and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals evaluated associations between BMI categories and PSE, adjusting for age, gender, academic year, and program. Results: No statistically significant association was found between BMI and PSE (p = 0.695). Similar null findings were observed across academic year (p = 0.601), program (p = 0.643), and gender (p = 0.098). Confidence intervals for all odds ratios crossed unity. Conclusion: BMI was not associated with physical self-efficacy in this cohort, suggesting that weight alone is insufficient to predict perceived physical capability in healthcare trainees. Functional performance measures may offer more accurate assessments for clinical readiness.