Eating habits and body mass index of medical students of shaheed mohtarma Benazir Bhutto medical university, Larkana

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to determine the eating habits and body mass index among the medical students of 4[th] year MBBS at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana. Cross sectional study. A cross sectional survey of 4[th] year MBBS medical students was conducted at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University [SMBBMU] Larkana, Sind, Pakistan from 22 March to 24 May, 2011. Study was conducted on medical students of 4[th] Year MBBS of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana from 22 March to 24 May, 2011. Taking ethical consideration, data was collected by self - administered questionnaire beside socio-demographic characteristics, family history of obesity, physical activity, dietary habits, smoking, Weight, and Height were recorded and BMI [Body Mass Index] was calculated for each medical student, BMI [Weight in Kg/Height in meter[2]]. Overweight [BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m[2]], Obesity [BMI = >/=30 kg/m[2]] categories were used by WHO classification. Statistical analysis was carried out by using SPSS version.16.0. In study, total 73 medical students were included, among the female students 10.96% were overweight and 02.74% obese, whereas among male students 12.33% and 08.22% were overweight and obese. The present study revealed that 10.96% of the study sample from Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana were obese [whose Body Mass Index = BMI was more than or equal to[>/= 30 kg/m[2]] and 23.29% of the medical students were overweight [Body Mass Index = BMI was [25 -29.9 kg/m[2]] while only 65.75% of the university students had normal body weight [BMI= 18.5 24.9 kg/m[2]]. Male students were more prone to overweight and obesity, multifaceted efforts are required for eating habits of students and propose interventions to improve such habits