GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

The study investigated gender difference in the means of body mass index (BMI) and somatotype status using the somatotyping ponderal index (SPI): an evaluation of their individual influence on the related health challenges of the staff members of the faculty of education in university of uyo. Ex post facto survey design was used for the study. The study was conducted in the University of Uyo community is in Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study comprised the males and females of the Faculty of Education of the University. A sample size of 82 staff members of the Faculty of Education, comprising 42 males and 40 females were used for the study. Standard-constructed instruments were adapted and used to measure the body weight, standing height, heart rate and blood pressure as done by some notable authors the instruments for the study was a standardized questionnaire titled: Gender difference in the means of body mass index (BMI) and somatotype status using the somatotyping ponderal index (SPI) (GDBDISPI). The consistency of the instruments was certified reliable at 0.9. The data collected on the subjects were treated with the descriptive statistics to obtain the answers the research questions. The Z-test statistics was used to treat the hypotheses, set at probability significant level of .05.The study concluded that there is a significant difference in the Body mass index (BMI) among the Education Faculty staff members. On the average, the females are significantly with more BMI value than their male counterpart, although descriptively both genders are in the overweight BMI health implication status. There is a significant gender difference in the Somatotype status by the means of somatotyping ponderal index (SPI) among the Education Faculty staff members. On the average, the females are significantly endomorphous with lesser SPI value than their male counterpart, who are in the mesomorphous somatotype status. It was recommended that the staff club should be well organized to afford a better avenue for physical exercises for members while the Physical and Health Education Department should project physical exercise programmes to the University community.

KEYWORDS: Gender Difference, Body Mass Index (BMI), Somatyping Ponderal Index (SPI), Health Challenges and University of Uyo.