title: Effect of Gender and Physical Activity on Internet Addiction in Medical Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of gender and physical activity on internet addiction in medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional, analytical study Young's internet addiction test questionnaire was distributed to 350 MBBS students of Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. The study was conducted from January to May 2015. A dichotomous response from students regarding physical activity was obtained which was verified from the sports department of the institution. Based upon total score, internet addiction was categorized as no addiction if the score was less than or equal to 49, moderate addiction when the score was 50 to 79 and severe when the score was 80 to 100.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 322 respondents 175 (54.3%) were males and 147 (42.7%) females with a mean age of 19.27±1.01 years. Total internet addiction score and frequency of internet addiction were similar between males and females (37.71±11.9 vs 38.63±14.00, p=0.18 and 25 vs 29, p=0.20). However, total score and frequency of internet addiction were higher in students lacking physical activity as compared to those with regular physical activity (40.37±15.05 vs 36.38±11.76, p=0.01 and 30 vs 24, p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet addiction is unrelated to gender however it is inversely related to physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Alamgir Khan, FCPS. Professor of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Alamgir
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Faizania Shabbir, FCPS. Assistant Professor of Physiology, Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faizania
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shabbir
authors.affiliation: Dr. Tausif Ahmed Rajput, PhD. Professor and Chairperson, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tausif Ahmed
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rajput
keywords: Internet addiction; Young’s internet addiction test