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Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity and Its Associated Factors among University Students from 22 Countries

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  • Karl Peltzer

    (ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Madidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand
    Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
    HIV/AIDS/STIs and TB (HAST) Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X41, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Supa Pengpid

    (ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Madidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand
    Department of Research, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga 0727, South Africa)

  • T. Alafia Samuels

    (Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, P.O. Box 64, Bridgetown 11000, Barbados)

  • Neslihan Keser Özcan

    (Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Science, Istanbul University, Bakirkoy, Istanbul 34740, Turkey)

  • Carolina Mantilla

    (Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidad de Pamplona, Pamplona 0, Colombia)

  • Onja H. Rahamefy

    (Research and Training Laboratory of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo 001, Madagascar)

  • Mee Lian Wong

    (School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 16, Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Alexander Gasparishvili

    (Centre for Sociological Studies, Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia)

Abstract

Obesity among young people increases lifetime cardiovascular risk. This study assesses the prevalence of overweight/obesity and its associated factors among a random sample of university students from 22 universities in 22 low, middle income and emerging economy countries. This cross-sectional survey comprised of a self-administered questionnaire and collected anthropometric measurements. The study population was 6773 (43.2%) males and 8913 (56.8%) females, aged 16 to 30 years (mean 20.8 years, SD = 2.6). Body mass index (BMI) was used for weight status. Among men, the prevalence of underweight was 10.8%, normal weight 64.4%, overweight 18.9% and obesity 5.8%, while among women, the prevalence of underweight was 17.6%, normal weight 62.1%, overweight 14.1% and obesity 5.2%. Overall, 22% were overweight or obese (24.7% men and 19.3% women). In multivariate regression among men, younger age, coming from a higher income country, consciously avoiding fat and cholesterol, physically inactivity, current tobacco use and childhood physical abuse, and among women older age, coming from a higher income country, frequent organized religious activity, avoiding fat and cholesterol, posttraumatic stress symptoms and physical childhood abuse were associated overweight or obesity. Several gender specific risk factors identified can be utilized in health promotion programmes.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Peltzer & Supa Pengpid & T. Alafia Samuels & Neslihan Keser Özcan & Carolina Mantilla & Onja H. Rahamefy & Mee Lian Wong & Alexander Gasparishvili, 2014. "Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity and Its Associated Factors among University Students from 22 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:7:p:7425-7441:d:38354
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    Cited by:

    1. Sorina Madalina Boariu & Ana Maria Scutariu & Delia Reurean Pintilei & Monica Tarcea & Raquel P. F. Guiné & Manuela Ferreira, 2024. "Food Literacy Assessment of a Sample of Romanian Higher Education Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Che Wan Jasimah Wan Mohamed Radzi & Hashem Salarzadeh Jenatabadi & Ayed R. A. Alanzi & Mohd Istajib Mokhtar & Mohd Zufri Mamat & Nor Aishah Abdullah, 2019. "Analysis of Obesity among Malaysian University Students: A Combination Study with the Application of Bayesian Structural Equation Modelling and Pearson Correlation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Maja Grujičić & Miloš Ilić & Budimka Novaković & Aleksandra Vrkatić & Zagorka Lozanov-Crvenković, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Physical Activity among Medical Students from the Western Balkans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Julia Pfisterer & Constantin Rausch & Doreen Wohlfarth & Philip Bachert & Darko Jekauc & Kathrin Wunsch, 2022. "Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Holly Blake & Kathryn Watkins & Matthew Middleton & Natalia Stanulewicz, 2021. "Obesity and Diet Predict Attitudes towards Health Promotion in Pre-Registered Nurses and Midwives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.
    6. Ladislav Pilař & Lucie Kvasničková Stanislavská & Roman Kvasnička, 2021. "Healthy Food on the Twitter Social Network: Vegan, Homemade, and Organic Food," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Feng Sun & Qiang He & Xiaohan Sun & Jianxin Wang, 2022. "The Association between Body Mass Index and Muscular Fitness in Chinese College Freshmen," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, October.

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