Relationship Between Anthropometric Characteristics, Self-Perception of Body Mass Index, Physical Condition and Eating Habits in University Health and Education Students [Relación Entre Características Antropométricas, Autopercepción del Índice de Masa Corporal, Condición Física y Hábitos Alimentarios en Estudiantes Universitarios de Salud y Educación]

Introduction: The university stage is a period of modification in lifestyles. Pedagogy and health career students, addi-tionally, will assume the role of guides and models regarding healthy behaviours towards their students and patients, respectively. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, self-perception of body mass index (BMI), physical condition and eating habits among pedagogy and health career university students. Mate-rials and method: Descriptive and correlational study. The sample consisted of 158 university students (age 22.5 ± 2.5 years). Anthropometric characteristics, self-perception of BMI, physical condition and eating habits were evaluated. Results: BMI was positively correlated with perceived BMI (r= 0.46, p= 0.012). Waist circumference was positively correlated with perceived BMI and handgrip strength. The percentage of body fat was positively correlated with the perceived BMI and negatively with the physical condition (power, handgrip and flexibility). Arm muscle area was correlated with perceived BMI, perceived BMI score, and physical condition. Eating habits were negatively correlated with perceived BMI but not with anthropometric characteristics. Conclusion: University students from health and education careers with better anthropometric characteristics (lower BMI, waist circumference and fat percentage, and greater muscle area of the arm), have a higher self-perception of BMI and better performance in fitness tests physical. © 2023, Sociedad Chilena de Nutricion Bromatologia y Toxilogica. All rights reserved.