Abstract
The university represents a critical space for students in terms of prevalence of malnutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (% BF), waist circumference (WC), and anemia in university students. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2,285 university students from Lima, Peru. The sample was selected by nonprobability convenience sampling. Anthropometric data and hemoglobin levels were measured. The Chi-square test was used. The analysis of the associated factors was done using binary logistic regression. A significance level of 5% was considered. There were no significant differences between men and women in BMI (p > 0.05). The men presented significantly high and very high levels of % BF (p < 0.001). The proportion of women who presented anemia and high and very high WC was significantly higher compared to men (p < 0.001). Being older than 27 years (ORB = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.19–3.6), being male (ORB = 2.68; 95% CI = 2.02–3.55), studying at the engineering faculty (ORB = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.09–1.79), having excess body fat (ORB = 8.17; 95% CI = 6.13–10.87), and having an elevated WC (ORB = 35.51; 95% CI = 25.06–50.33) significantly predicted overweight/obesity. The findings of this study suggest that college students, especially males and those who are not enrolled in health sciences colleges, should be a priority in healthy lifestyle interventions, particularly nutritional education programs, to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Highlights
A significance level of 5% was considered. ere were no significant differences between men and women in body mass index (BMI) (p > 0.05). e men presented significantly high and very high levels of % BF (p < 0.001). e proportion of women who presented anemia and high and very high waist circumference (WC) was significantly higher compared to men (p < 0.001)
Being older than 27 years (ORB 2.07; 95% CI 1.19–3.6), being male (ORB 2.68; 95% CI 2.02–3.55), studying at the engineering faculty (ORB 1.39; 95% CI 1.09–1.79), having excess body fat (ORB 8.17; 95% CI 6.13–10.87), and having an elevated WC (ORB 35.51; 95% CI 25.06–50.33) significantly predicted overweight/obesity. e findings of this study suggest that college students, especially males and those who are not enrolled in health sciences colleges, should be a priority in healthy lifestyle interventions, nutritional education programs, to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity
In Peru, some studies have been carried out regarding the prevalence of overweight and obesity [15,16,17]; few have focused on the percentage of body fat, anemia, and cardiovascular risk factors in college students
Summary
According to the National Institute of Health, 42.4% of young people represented by the university population have obesity [3]. Overweight and obesity represent one of the important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, and different types of cancer [4, 5]. In Peru, some studies have been carried out regarding the prevalence of overweight and obesity [15,16,17]; few have focused on the percentage of body fat, anemia, and cardiovascular risk factors in college students. There is an urgent need to analyze the situation in this population group In this sense, the objective of this study was to determine the BMI, % BF, WC, and anemia in university students
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