Background: Physicians' own Physical Activity (PA) and other health-related habits influence PA promotion. The present study identifies the PA level, according to the current PA recommendations and other health-related habits of physicians from the Catalan Medical Council. Methods: 2,400 physicians (30 to 55 years) were randomly selected to generate a target sample of 800; each received a self-administered questionnaire identifying medical specialization, work setting, health self-perception, body mass index (BMI), PA and smoking habits. Results: 762 physicians responded (52% female). Almost one in two (49.3%) exercised sufficiently, nearly all selfperceived good health, while 80.5% were non-smokers. Almost 6 in 10 males reported overweight or obesity (56.9%) versus 18.2% of females. Active physicians dominated specific groups; (i) aged 45-55 years, (ii) specializing either in primary care or surgery, (iii) working in the private sector, (iv) BMI <25 kg/m 2 , (v) perceiving themselves in good health, or (vi) having free leisure time. Conclusions: Only half of Catalan physicians met current PA recommendations; male physicians were particularly at risk of overweight/obesity. Overweight and under exercise were associated with private workplaces and positive health perceptions, meaning that it is it is now possible to target inactive and/or overweight Catalan physicians in future interventions.
Background: Little is known about lifestyle choices and preventive healthcare-seeking behaviors during the transition from medical school graduation to residency training, a period characterized by increased rates of stress and lack of free time due to demanding working conditions. All of these issues are likely to affect physical activity (PA) level. This study explored the evolution of PA and other lifestyle behaviors during this transition. Methods: A cross-sectional study and a cohort study were conducted with medical students (2010) and physicians before and after the first year of residency (2013 and 2014). A self-administered questionnaire assessed PA, health and lifestyle behaviors. Results: From a sample of 420 medical students and 478 residents, 74% comply with current PA guidelines. PA decreased by 16% during residency. Low levels of PA were found among (i) females, and in respondents who reported (ii) poor self-perceived health and (iii) unhealthy body weight (p < 0.05). Low PA level was also significantly associated with poor mental health in first-year residents. Conclusions: The transition has a negative effect on physicians' PA level that may affect physicians' own health and patient care.Medical programs should encourage residents to engage in PA to assure physicians' personal and mental health.Keywords: physical activity; medical students; residents' health; lifestyle behaviors; mental healthThe transition of medical students to residency 2 IntroductionIn medical training the transition from medical school to residency training is characterized by higher rates of stress and a lack of free time. The demands of the working conditions can also lead to limited sleep, dealing with patients' suffering and the death and/or the responsibility of starting to make decisions regarding patients' health.1, 2 Further, with increasing demands within medical education, it is important that new studies build on existing research to show the effects that the different stages of training may have on physicians' personal health and lifestyle-related behaviors.In both patients and doctors, sedentary behaviors, physical inactivity, obesity levels, smoking rates, alcohol consumption and substance use are powerful behavioral risk factors for numerous chronic diseases.3, 4 For patients, physicians are both an important source of health-related information and role models. This puts them in a powerful position to influence their patients' behaviors. 5 The TorontoCharter links this influence to the key initiators of prevention actions for non-communicable diseases within healthcare systems and their capacity to influence large portions of the population. Studies show the importance of both including PA prescriptions in the medical curricula and promoting healthy lifestyle choices such as PA during medical school first. Increasing the proportion of students who adopt and maintain regular PA habits is essential for increasing the rate and quality of the future PA counseling delivered by doctors. 5,6 Yet little is...
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