Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among University Students of the Health Field in San Luis Potosí México

Abstract

The aim for this research is to determine the association between the risk factors and prevalence of overweight and obesity in students in the health field in the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (UASLP in Spanish). A quantitative, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2012. By stratified random sampling, 290 students in the health field were selected. Questionnaire was used to identify factors associated with obesity. The obesity and overweight prevalence was determined, calculating body mass index through anthropometric measurement. The strength of the association between variables was measured using Chi squared and odds ratio tests. The proportion of students with overweight or obesity was 28.3% and was higher in men (36.8%) than in women (24.6%), with statistical significance (p < 0.01). Greater obesity or overweight was identified in psychology students (p < 0.01) and in those who reported an average appetite (79.3%) (p < 0.05). In total, 66.6% of the students decreased their physical activity upon joining the university, which was a factor significantly associated with obesity and overweight (p < 0.05). The findings show that the school environment can be a conditioning factor for the development of obesity and overweight in students. Implementation of a program is recommended to prevent and control such problems.