PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY, AMONG STUDENTS OF KHYBER GIRLS MEDICAL COLLEGE PESHAWAR.

ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity in Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar.
Material and Methods: This is cross sectional study, conducted in Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar from November
2012 to April 2013. In the study two hundred and forty female students of first, second, third and fourth year
MBBS Students aged 19 to 21 years were enrolled. Obesity was determined using body mass index (BMI = Wt/Ht2).
Results: Two hundred and forty female students participated in the study. The response rate in first year, second year,
and third year, forth year students were 77.3%, 69%, 92% and 100% respectively. The mean age of the students was
21.3+1.2. Of these, 78 (32.5%) were overweight with BMI (23 – 24.9 kg/m2), obese students with (BMI>25 kg/m2) were
41 (17%), 7 (2.9%) students had BMI<18 kg/m2. Only 114(47.5%) had BMI in the desirable (normal) range: 18.5-22.9
kg/m2. There was no significant difference in overweight and obesity prevalence between the years in which students
were studying. There was no significant difference in overweight and obesity prevalence between the years in which
students were studying.
Conclusion: This study suggests that overweight and obesity among these students is due to their sedentary lifestyle
and imbalance in the daily intake of calories, carbohydrate, fat and protein.
Key Words: obesity, body mass index