The association between sedentary behaviour and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among medical students at Syiah Kuala University
Abstract
Background: Sedentary behaviour is any waking behaviour characterized by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 METs while sitting or reclining posture. Medical students represent a young adult population that is prone to sedentary behaviour. Excessive sedentary behaviour may increase the risk of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between sedentary behaviour and the risk of T2DM among medical students at Universitas Syiah Kuala. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 260 medical students at Universitas Syiah Kuala, selected using stratified random sampling, and was conducted from September 22 to October 17, 2025, at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala. Sedentary behaviour was assessed using the Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire (SBQ), while the risk of T2DM was evaluated using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) which incorporates anthropometric measures including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The majority of respondents had a high level of sedentary behaviour (44.6%). Most participants were classified as having a low risk of T2DM (48.5%), BMI < 25 kg/m² (53.5%), normal waist circumference (60.4%), and no family history of diabetes mellitus (45.4%). There was a statistically significant association between sedentary behaviour and the risk of T2DM (p = 0.046), with a very weak correlation strength (r = 0.124). Conclusion: A statistically significant but very weak association between sedentary behaviour and the risk of T2DM among medical students at Syiah Kuala University.Downloads
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