M. Athar Ansari
Aligarh Muslim University, India
Title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity and their correlates- A cross sectional study among medical students of India
Biography
Biography: M. Athar Ansari
Abstract
The present Cross-sectional study was carried out from January, 2014to December, 2014 with the following objectives: 1. To find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity in medical students 2. To determine the correlates of overweight and obesity Participants were medical students posted in the Department of Community Medicine during 3rd to 5th semesters under Rural Health Posting. Total number of participants was 240 comprising of 150 male and 90 female students. A pretested questionnaire was given to them and complete personal details, dietary habits were noted down followed by examination. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to categorize the students into underweight, normal, overweight and obese groups. A BMI of <18.5 Kg/ m2 was taken as cut off point for under weight. Overweight and Obese were taken at the level of 23 Kg/ m2 and 25 Kg/m2 and above respectively. Among 150 male students, 30 (20.0%) were overweight while 9 (6.0%) were found to be obese and 6 (4.0%) were underweight. Among 90 girls, 21 (23.3%) were overweight, 10 (11.1%) obese and (7.7%) were found to be underweight. High calorie intake was noticed in 45 (30.0%) male students and lack of physical activity was observed in 25 (16.7%) male students. Among female students, high calorie intake and lack of physical activity was found in 31 (34.4%) and 20 (22.2%) students respectively. There is urgent need for prevention of obesity and its risk factors among college students. These findings have enormous significance for developing societies emerging from poverty and continuing to bear the double burden of both form of malnutrition in their populations.
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