Publication: Obesity among Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing these days. The adverse effect of obesity can be seen in different physiological functions. Relative fat mass is a newly identified parameter to estimate whole body fat. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of obesity among medical students of a medical college.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students of a medical college from 1 September 2021 to 30 January 2022. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: FNMC/539/078/79). Simple random sampling was done. Height was measured using a stadiometer and waist circumference was measured using non-stretchable tape. Relative fat mass was calculated using the relative fat mass equation. The data was categorised according to the distribution of fat mass. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Out of 180 medical students, 57 (31.67%) (24.87-38.47, 95% Confidence Interval) were obese according to relative fat mass cut-off. The mean fat mass among male and female participants with high relative fat mass was 27.057±1.42 and 35.674±2.63 respectively.
Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity was lower than in other studies done in similar settings.
Description
Vibina Aryal
Department of Physiology, National Medical College, Birgunj, Parsa, Nepal
Dayaram Ghimire
Department of Physiology, National Medical College, Birgunj, Parsa, Nepal
Sabita Kandel
Department of Clinical Physiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Anirban Majumder
Department of Physiology, National Medical College, Birgunj, Parsa, Nepal
Sourav Manna
Department of Physiology, National Medical College, Birgunj, Parsa, Nepal
Keywords
Body fat, Obesity, Medical students