title: Prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors among a sample of university students in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and the lifestyle characteristic of Indian society lead young people to conditions of potential cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors in a sample of Indian university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 (M age 18.2 years, SD=1.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  37.5% were overweight or obese, 26.8% overweight (≥23-27.4 BMI) and 10.7% obese (≥27.5 kg/m(2)), 11.7% underweight (<18.5 kg/m(2)) and 16.4% central obesity (WC ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women). In multivariate analysis among men lack of non-organised religious activity (odds ratio=OR 0.85, confidence interval=CI 0.77-0.95), lower dietary risk knowledge (OR=0.64, CI=0.41-0.99), tobacco use (OR=2.23, CI=1.14-4.38), and suffering from depression (OR=1.59, CI=1.00-2.47) were associated with overweight/obesity, and younger age (OR=0.32, CI=0.12-0.90), lives away from parents or guardians (OR=1.79, CI=1.04-3.07), healthy dietary practices (OR=1.95, CI=1.02-3.72) and 9 or more hours sleep duration (OR=0.28, CI=0.09-0.96) were associated with central obesity. In bivariate analysis among women, lack of social support, lower dietary risk knowledge, tobacco use, and 9 or more hours sleep duration were associated with overweight/obesity and lives away from parents or guardians and abstinence from alcohol associated with central obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found a high prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity. Several gender specific health risk practices were identified including lack of dietary risk knowledge, shorter sleep duration, living away from parents or guardians, tobacco use and lack of social support and religiousness that can be utilised in health promotion programmes.
authors.affiliation: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Madidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand; University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
authors.forename: Supa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pengpid
authors.affiliation: ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Madidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand; University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; HIV/AIDS/STIs and TB (HAST), Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X41, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Electronic address: kpeltzer@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peltzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012067:Religion; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D064424:Tobacco Use; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: India; Obesity; Overweight; University students