title: Obesity and associated risk factors among students of health colleges of King Saud University, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of obesity and associated risk factors among medical students in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to March 2013 at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using stratified sampling technique, undergraduate students of either gender from the health colleges were included. Information was collected through a pretested questionnaire. Measurements of the height and weight were noted and body mass index for all the subjects was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 292 students, 146(50%) were males and 146(50%) were females. Obesity was found in 40(13.7%)students. It was more prevalent among males than females (p<0.05) and among those who had chronic diseases (p<0.001). Family history of obesity was significantly associated with obesity (p=0.016). No significant association was found between physical activity and obesity (p=0.863).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was considerable prevalence of obesity among the medical students. Being male, having family history of obesity, and having chronic diseases were important risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Prince Abdulla bin Khaled Coeliac Disease Research Chair (PAKCDRC), King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Elshazaly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Prince Abdulla bin Khaled Coeliac Disease Research Chair (PAKCDRC), King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Asaad Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: AwadEljack
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aljasser
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alhuzimi
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed Assad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Assiri
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nasser Ali
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Alqahtani
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saud Amer
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alshahrani
authors.affiliation: King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yousif A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Al-Ammar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords:  Obesity, Prevalence, Students of health colleges, King Saud University, KSU, Saudi Arabia.