QTMD - Report - Ashish Minal Shrizana Oshin

8ody Mass lndex (8Ml) among M8A sLudenLs ln nepal
M8A - l
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Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM)
MBA I Fall 2012, Quantitative Techniques for Managerial Decisions
Dr. Biswo Poudel

Body Mass Index (BMI) among MBA students in Nepal

Ashish Silwal
MBA I Fall 2012, Kathmandu University School of Management
Email: 12135_ashish@kusom.edu.np

Minal Singh
Email: 12136_minal@kusom.edu.np

Shrizana Shrestha
Email: 12133_shrizana@kusom.edu.np

Oshin Batas
Email: 12104_oshin@kusom.edu.np

ABSTRACT. The dynamics of Body Mass Index (BMI) among MBA students in Nepal has
been studies through a survey of 28 sample MBA students from Kathmandu University School
of Management (KUSOM). We found that the BMI does not have any relation with the gender of
the student. Furthermore, heights of the students had to effect on whether they will gain, lose or
have their weight constant after joining their MBA studies.

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1. Introduction
Healthy body contributes to healthy mind, healthy life and happiness. Reaching and maintaining
a healthy weight in ones life is very essential. Staying at a healthy weight no doubt makes one
look good but also results in increased energy and an improved sense of well-being. It also
decreases the risk of having medical problems such as heart-disease, diabetes etc. The key to
maintain a healthy weight is not just about a diet it about a proper change in lifestyle which
includes healthy eating, regular exercise or any kind of physical activities, and balancing the
number of calories you consumes with what your body uses.
A general guide for determining healthy weight is the body mass index or BMI. It is a ratio of
height to weight. It indicates if a person is overweight/underweight/normal. The normality
depends upon the age of a person, its different for adolescents and children. However, it has
limitations and can wrongly suggest the ratio in some cases. For example a gym trainer might be
in great shape but may have BMI exceeding whats recommended. This is due to the muscle
weight. Likewise, a person eating very healthy food and is extremely active may have high BMI
yet low body fat. A research published in a journal Obesity suggests that people with higher than
normal BMIs may live longer than their lower-weight counterparts. Therefore, instead of solely
focusing on a number on the BMI scale, one should focus on eating the right foods in the right
amount and getting sufficient exercise then the body will find the appropriate weight required.
In this study, we looked to answer the following questions:
Q1 What is the average weight of MBA students in Nepal?
Q2 Does the BMI have any relationship with the gender of MBA students?
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2. Rationale of the Study
1he maln ldea behlnd Lhls research ls Lo undersLand Lhe proporLlon of helghL and welghL, l.e.
Lhe 8ody Mass lndex among lndlvlduals (sLudenLs of kuSCM ln our case) and see Lhe
proporLlon of Lhese sLudenLs LhaL fall under Lhe caLegory of underwelghL, normal welghL or
overwelghL. We are lnLeresLed Lo see lf Lhere ls a dlrecL correlaLlon beLween gender of Lhe
sLudenLs and Lhe caLegory of 8Ml Lhey fall onLo.
1hls research wlll help us know lf Lhere ls any dependence of 8Ml wlLh Lhe eaLlng hablLs and
workouL plans of Lhe sLudenLs, and lf Lhese explanaLory varlables wlll creaLe a slgnlflcanL
dlfference ln Lhe 8Ml level of Lhe sLudenLs.
3. Purpose of the Study
1he purpose of Lhe sLudy ls Lo analyze Lhe 8ody Mass lndex (8Ml) among M8A sLudenLs of
kuSCM. 1hls analysls wlll be carrled ouL Lo LesL Lhe lnLerdependence of 8Ml wlLh gender, dleL
cholce and flLness level of Lhe sLudenLs.
4. Literature Review
4.1 Body Mass Index
The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a measure for human body shape based on an
individual's weight and height. It was devised between 1830 and 1850 by
the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".
Eknoyan (2007)
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National Institute of Healths NHLBI says:
Body mass index is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their
height. The formulae universally used in medicine produce a unit of measure of kg/m2.
BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart, which displays BMI as a function of
weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using contour lines for different values
of BMI or colors for different BMI categories.
Physical activity, exercise and physical fitness are the terms that describe different
concepts. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that
results in energy expenditure. The energy expenditure can be measured in kilocalories. Physical
activity in daily life can be categorized into occupational, sports, conditioning, household, or
other activities. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive
and has a final or an intermediate objective the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness.
Physical fitness is a set of attributes that are either health- or skill related. The degree to which
people have these attributes can be measured with specific tests. Caspersen, C. J et.al. (1985)
No matter how much we try to make it fun, and no matter what the experts tell us about how
great we will feel, when we first start regular exercise, we will probably dislike it. Weil (2013)
College students face the academic workload of midterms and finals and there is relatively
constant underlying pressure to complete an upcoming assignment. College students behavior
like staying up all night to study for an exam may be stressful and can lead to less healthy
practices. When the body is in stress, the body release hormones called Cortisol. Too much
cortisol can cause a person to gain weight even when maintaining a normal diet plan. It is
because too much cortisol can slow the metabolism causing more weight gain. Pearlin (1989)
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5. Research
5.1 Research Model

5.2 Hypothesis
The hypothesis formulated after the literature review are as follows.
H1: The average weight (in kgs) of MBA students is more than 55.
H2: Being under-weight, normal weight, or over-weight is independent of a MBA students
gender.
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H3: The mean heights of MBA students who had constant weight, weight increase, and
weight decrease are significantly similar.
The testing of hypothesis is confined to the primary data collected from the respondents of
KUSOM MBA/FALL 2012.

6. Methodology
6.1 Sample
We took sample population of 28 students. The students of KUSOM MBA/FALL 2012 were
taken as the population for the study. Out of 28 students, 14(50 percent) were females and 14 (50
percent) were males.

6.2 Instrumentation
The instrument contained sub-parts. The first sub-part contained the KUSOM Roll Number. The
second part was the gender of the respondent. The third and fourth part asked for the height and
weight of the respondent respectively. The fifth part asked the respondent if their weight has
increased, decreased or remained constant after joining the MBA course. The sixth part provided
an option to select a food item for dinner on a day he/she were very hungry. And the last part
asked if the respondent exercise to remain fit.

6.3 Procedure
The questionnaires were sent through online method. The respondents of the survey were the
KUSOM MBA/FALL 2012 students. Total of 7 questionnaires were compiled and sent for the
response. 28 out of 34 students responded and answered the questionnaires. The data were
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collected in the time frame of three days and the data analysis was done with the help of Chi-
Square Method, z-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

6.4 Bias
The research includes only one major MBA institutions in Nepal. However, it excludes some
other MBA institutions, which might have some impact in the findings of the research. Based on
our judgment, we decided that the exclusion of those other institutions will not have any
significant influence in our conclusion.

7. Results and Discussion
7.1 The average weight (in kgs) of MBA students is more than 55.

To conclude that the average weight of MBA students is more than 55, we first set null
hypothesis, H
0
: 55 and alternative hypothesis, H
1
>55. For this we take the sample size of 28,
which is equal to the number of respondents of the survey. Since we are try to prove H
1
>55, it is
a one tailed test.
Weight (kg): 65, 83, 65, 60, 57, 70, 52, 48, 75, 65, 50, 68, 50, 71, 45, 50, 70, 74, 70, 45, 44,
76, 52, 55, 76, 74, 45, 75
To test a hypothesis, we first calculate mean, which is 61.8 and then standard deviation of the
given data, which is 12.004. Next, we find standard error of the mean. We get this by dividing
standard deviation by the square root of sample size. After calculating standard error of the mean
i.e., 2.26, we calculate the t value by subtracting hypothesis mean (55) by mean (6.8) and then
dividing by the standard error. So, our observed t value is 3.008.
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We test the hypothesis at 0.05 significance level (!= 0.05). Our degree of freedom is 27 (n-1=28-
1). Since our sample size is less than 30, we look at t table corresponding to the value of != 0.05
with 27 degrees of freedom. So, our t value is 1.703
Since our observed t value 3.008>1.703, we reject the null hypothesis. And conclude that the
average weight of MBA students is more than 55 kgs.
7.2 Being under-weight, normal weight, or over-weight is independent of a MBA
students gender.
For our second hypothesis testing, we take the following sample of 14 Male MBA students and
14 Female MBA students from Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM). We
are testing whether being under-weight, normal weight, or over-weight is independent of a MBA
students gender.
Here is the basis for our categorization of weights through calculated BMIs of MBA students.
!"#$%&'( *+, -".%$ / 0%12
3

under-welghL <19
normal WelghL 19 - 23
Cver-welghL >23

Following was our sample after we categorized the respondents BMI.
+"4$ 5$2"4$ 6&#"4
7.8$'9:$;%<# 0 3 =
>&'2"4 ?$;%<# 10 7 @A
BC$'9:$;%<# 4 2 D
@E @E 3F
M8A - l
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Our null hypothesis that we hope to reject is: being under-weight, normal weight, or over-weight
is dependent on a MBA students gender. We have taken confidence level of 95% (!=0.05) to
test our hypothesis. In this case, our Degree of Freedom is 2. When we lookup for the
corresponding value in Chi-square distribution table, we get the value of 5.992. In order to reject
our null hypothesis, we need to find a Chi-square value which is greater than 5.992.
Now, we find out the expected frequency for each of the observed frequencies, and subtract them
from the corresponding observed frequencies. This value is squared and then divided over the
corresponding expected frequency to get another value. This value for every observed frequency
is summed up to give us the final Chi-square value of 6.18.
"2 = 6.18 > 5.992
We reject the null hypothesis.
Hence, we came to the conclusion that being under-weight, normal weight, or over-weight is
independent of a MBA students gender.

7.3 The mean heights of MBA students who had constant weight, weight increase, and
weight decrease are significantly similar.

In this hypothesis, we have data of height from respondents who had constant weight, weight
increase and weight decrease.

M8A - l
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G$;%<# &H +*I J#K8$.#L M;. ;.N<$LO
G$;%<# &H
:<&L$ :$;%<#
'$2";.$8
N&.L#".# "H#$'
P&;.;.% +*I
G$;%<# &H
:<&L$ :$;%<#
;.N'$"L$8
"H#$' P&;.;.%
+*I
G$;%<# &H
:<&L$ :$;%<#
8$N'$"L$8
"H#$' P&;.;.%
+*I
70 67 39
66 66 60
39 62 69
71 60 64
63 67 72
63 66 67
69 64 61
62

61
67

66
69

70

61

First we calculate the mean of the individual sample and the grand mean for the entire 28
students. The null hypothesis now will be H
0
all three means are equal. While alternative
hypothesis will be H
1
: the three means are not equal.
First step is to calculate of the estimates by examining the variance among the three sample
means 10, 7, 11(size in each sample) i.e., between column variance. We get between column
variance equal to 7.8. The other estimate of the population variance is determined by the
variation within the three samples themselves that is, (70, 66, 59, 71, 65, 63, 69, 62, 67, 69), (67,
66, 62, 60, 67, 66, 64) and (59, 60, 69, 64, 72, 67, 61, 61, 66, 70, 61) which is 15.24. Then we
compare these two estimates of the population variance by computing F ratio which is the ratio
of between column variance to within column variance. The F ratio is 0.51. The nearer the F
ratio comes to 1, then the more we are inclined to accept the null hypothesis.
M8A - l
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Now we find degrees of freedom. Degrees of freedom for numerator is 2 (number of samples-1)
and for denominator it is 25 (total sample size number of sample). Suppose we are testing a
hypothesis at the 0.05 significance level, using the f distribution, we look at the table, for 2 and
25 degrees of freedom, which is 3.3852. Since the calculated sample value F is less than the table
value of 3.3852, we fail to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the mean height of MBA
students who had constant weight, weight increase and weight decrease are significantly similar.
8. Conclusion
The results of this research clearly indicate that overwhelming majority of MBA students in
Nepal are above 55 kg in weight. Furthermore, whether a student is male or female does not
bring about any significant influence on them being underweight, overweight, or normal weight.
Those who lose weight after joining MBA had statistically similar heights compared to those
who gain weight and those whose weight remained constant.

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References
1. Caspersen, C. J., Powell, K. E., & Christenson, G. M. (1985). Physical activity, exercise,
and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research, 126-128.
2. Lknoyan, C. (2007). "Adolphe CueLeleL (1796-1874)-Lhe average man and lndlces of oeslLy".
!"#$%&'&() +,-').,. /%-0.#'-01-1,&02
3. Pearlin, Leonard I. 1989. "The sociological study of stress." Journal of Health and Social
Behavior, 30: 241-56

M8A - l
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Annexure
Survey

M8A - l
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Q"#" H'&2 JK'C$(
What is
your
KUSOM
roll
number? Gender
What
is your
height
?
(appro
x.)
What is
your
weight?
(approx.)
(Please be
honest!!!)
Do you feel
that there has
been any
change in
your weight
since you
joined
KUSOM
MBA?
If you had to
choose one of
the following to
eat for dinner
on a day you
are very
hungry, which
would you
choose?
Do you
exercise
to remain
fit?

12108 Male
3 feeL
10 lnch 63
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL. Aalu araLha no normal 8ange
30 Male
3 feeL 7
lnch 83
?es. My
welghL has
lncreased. Aalu araLha
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! Cver WelghL
22 Male
3 feeL 6
lnch 63
?es. My
welghL has
lncreased.
ury (Sukhkhha)
8oLl ?es normal 8ange
12136 lemale
3 feeL 6
lnch 60
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL.
ury (Sukhkhha)
8oLl no normal 8ange
12133 lemale
4 feeL
11 lnch 37
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL. url
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! Cver WelghL
12133 Male
3 feeL
11 lnch 70
no. My welghL
has remalned
4 lemale
4 feeL
11 lnch 32
?es. My
welghL has
decreased. Aalu araLha no normal 8ange
17 lemale 3 feeL 48
?es. My
welghL has
decreased. Aalu araLha
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
12121 Male
3 feeL 9
lnch 73
?es. My
welghL has Aalu araLha
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls normal 8ange
M8A - l
13
decreased. M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!!
12103 Male
3 feeL 3
lnch 63
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL.
ury (Sukhkhha)
12106 lemale
3 feeL 3
lnch 30
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL.
ury (Sukhkhha)
12118 Male
3 feeL 9
lnch 68
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL.
ury (Sukhkhha)
12124 lemale
3 feeL 2
lnch 30
no. My welghL
has remalned
12113 lemale
3 feeL 4
lnch 71
?es. My
welghL has
decreased.
ury (Sukhkhha)
8oLl no CverwelghL
23 lemale
3 feeL 2
lnch 43
?es. My
welghL has
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! underwelghL
28 lemale 3 feeL 30
?es. My
welghL has
lncreased.
ury (Sukhkhha)
8oLl
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
12131 Male 6 feeL 70
?es. My
welghL has
decreased.
Aalu araLha,
url
?es, l wanL
Lo. 8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
12114 Male
3 feeL 7
lnch 74
?es. My
welghL has
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! CverwelghL
12134 Male
3 feeL 7
lnch 70
?es. My
welghL has
decreased. Aalu araLha no normal 8ange
12123 lemale
3 feeL 1
lnch 43
?es. My
welghL has Aalu araLha no underwelghL
M8A - l
16
decreased.
29 lemale
3 feeL 1
lnch 44
?es. My
welghL has
decreased. Aalu araLha ?es underwelghL
12132 Male
3 feeL 6
lnch 76
?es. My
welghL has
no, l wanL
Lo. 8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! CverwelghL
12112 lemale
3 feeL 6
lnch 32
?es. My
welghL has
decreased. url
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! underwelghL
12126 lemale
3 feeL 7
lnch 33
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL.
ury (Sukhkhha)
8oLl
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
10 Male
3 feeL 9
lnch 76
no. My welghL
has remalned
consLanL. Aalu araLha
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
12116 Male
3 feeL
10 lnch 74
?es. My
welghL has
no, l wanL
Lo. 8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! normal 8ange
12103 lemale
3 feeL 1
lnch 43
?es. My
welghL has
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! underwelghL
12120 Male
3 feeL 4
lnch 73
?es. My
welghL has
l wanL Lo.
8uL Lhls
M8A ls Loo
much Llme
consumlng
!!! CverwelghL

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8ody Mass lndex (8Ml) among M8A sLudenLs ln nepal

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