Overweight and Obesity among University Student: Cross Sectional Study Exposes Association with Food Habit and Physical Activity

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the association between food habit, physical activity, and nutritional status in university students. Cross sectional study was conducted on 62 undergraduate university students enrolled in sport and non-sport department. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used to measure physical activity level. Evaluation of food habit was collected through a validated Recommended Foods Score which has been adapted to measure diet quality in general with a focus on healthy food intake. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney test were done to compare the measured variables between sport major and non-sport major student. Spearman correlation was performed to examine the association between measured variables. The results showed that more than one-fifth of total subjects (21%) were overweight. Food habit is associated with body mass index (p=0.005) and METs score (p=0.032). Lastly, physical activity was positively associated with BMI (p=0.004). Balance amount of healthy food and actively engage in physical activity can contribute to lower BMI, as well as maintain health and well-being. This also happens to adolescent population, include university students—an age group which could be addressed to prevent several health problems.