title: High prevalence of preobesity and obesity among medical students of Lahore and its relation with dietary habits and physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among students of medical colleges of Lahore and to study its correlation with high-caloric diet intake and physical inactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted at four medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan between March and June 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 244 medical students (85 males, 159 females) of the median age of 20 years (range: 18-25) were randomly included in the study. Anthropometric measures were obtained. High-caloric diet intake and physical profile were assessed through a self-reported questionnaire. The relationships between obesity indices (body mass index [BMI], waist-to-hip ratio) were investigated and correlated with the studied dietary and physical activity factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately, 30.5% males and 16% females had BMI ≥25.0 kg/m(2) overall affecting 21% of total medical students. Central obesity was found in 46% of male and 31.4% of female students. Central obesity was associated with a higher total daily caloric intake, studying at private medical college and male gender. Overall, 197 of 244 (80.7%) students played no sports in college. Median time to watch television or work on the computer was 120 min a day (range: 30-420). Only 70 (28.7%) students had regular walk or jogging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of Pakistani medical students were overweight or obese. Higher total daily caloric intake was associated with central obesity but not a BMI >25. Physical activity parameters favored an overall sedentary aptitude for medical students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Unit III, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zeeshan Nasir
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Unit III, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Zaman Khan
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Assir
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Unit III, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mudassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Unit III, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aghosh-E-Gul
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical Unit III, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Atika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabeen
keywords: High-caloric diet; Pakistan; medical students; obesity; physical activity