Prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors among a sample of university students in India

SOURCE: Obesity Research & Clinical Practice
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2013
TITLE AUTHOR(S): S.Pengpid, K.Peltzer
KEYWORDS: DIETARY HABITS, FOOD AND NUTRITION, INDIA, INDIA, OBESITY, STUDENTS (COLLEGE), WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 8108
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/2547
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/2547

If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.

Abstract

Obesity and the lifestyle characteristic of Indian society lead young people to conditions of potential cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this study waste assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors in a sample of Indian university students. In a cross-sectional survey assessed anthropometric measurements and a self-administered questionnaire among a sample of randomly selected university students. The sample included 800 university students from non-health (mainly sciences) courses Gitam University in India. The students were 541 (67.6%) males and 259 (32.4%) females in the age range of 17-20 years. 37.5% were overweight or obese, 26.8% overweight and 10.7% obese, 11.7% underweight and 16.4% central obesity. In multivariate analysis among men lack of non-organised religious activity, lower dietary risk knowledge, tobacco use, and suffering from depression were associated with overweight/obesity, and younger age, lives away from parents or guardians, healthy dietary practices and 9 or more hours sleep duration were associated with central obesity.