Relationship between a body shape index and muscle strength index in Chinese university students: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background The problem of overweight obesity and decrease in muscle strength among university students has become an indisputable fact. In this study, a comprehensive index reflecting obesity degree a body shape index (ABSI) and a comprehensive index reflecting muscle strength muscle strength index (MSI) were studied to analyze the cross-sectional correlations existing between them. Methods This study began recruiting participants and conducting the test survey in April 2022 and closed in July 2022. Basic condition, height, weight, waist circumference, grip strength, pull-up (boys), bent-leg sit-up (girls), and standing long jump were tested on 12,046 (boys: 6011, 49.90%) university students aged 19–22 years in China, and ABSI and MSI were calculated separately. ABSI was categorized into 5 groups according to age and sex, namely ABSI