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

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.