Demographic Data of Respondents
A total of 379 university students were recruited during the study, 191 (50.4%) were female and 188 (49.6%) were female. The response rate among the participants was 100%. Year students made up 23 (6.1%), year 2 students 32 (8.4%), year 3 students 98 (25.9%), year 4 students 62 (16.4%), and year 5 students 164 (43.3%). The age of the students was as follows; 6(1.6%) were 18 years old, 13 (3.4%) were 19 years old, 38 (10.0%) were 20 years old, 89 (23.5%) were 21 years old, 80 (21.1%) were 22 years old, 110 (20.9%) were 23 years old, 41(10.8%) were 24 years old, and only 2 (0.5%) were 25 years old. 198 (52.2%) of the students were day scholars and 181 (47.8%) of the students were living in hostels. Most of the students 339 (89.4%) had never smoked, 18 (4.7%) were occasional smokers, 10 (2.6%) were previous smokers, and 12(3.2%) were regular smokers.
Prevalence for overweight and obesity
The data for obesity and overweight is discussed in Figure 1.
Eating Habits of University Students
Out of 397 students, 326(87.0%) agreed to eat regular meals every day. 171(45.11%) have 3 meals per day. 214(56.46%) students have breakfast regularly, 257(67.81%) snack between meals, 215(56.72%) eat vegetables, and 213(56.20%) eat fruits 3-5 times per week. Less than half of 185(48.81%) students have more than 2 liters of water.
The comparison of eating habits of overweight/obese and underweight students is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Factors (eating habits) associated with overweight/obesity.
Variable
|
n = 379 (%)
|
Non overweight / Obese
n = 309 (%)
|
Overweight
n = 70 (%)
|
x2 = statisticsa
(df)
|
P-valuea
|
Eat meals regularly on daily basis
Yes
No
|
326 (86.0)
53 (14)
|
266 (86.1)
43 (13.9)
|
60 (85.7)
10 (14.3)
|
0.006 (1)
|
0.936
|
Number of regular meals
< 3 meals/day
3 meals/day
> 3 meals/day
|
166 (43.8)
171 (45.1)
42 (11.1)
|
129 (41.7)
144 (46.6)
36 (11.6)
|
37 (52.8)
27 (38.6)
6 (8.6)
|
2.912 (2)
|
0.233
|
Eat breakfast every day
Yes
No
|
214 (56.5)
165 (43.5)
|
182 (58.9)
127 (41.1)
|
32 (45.7)
38 (54.3)
|
4.036 (1)
|
0.045
|
Snack in between regular meals
Yes
No
|
257 (67.8)
122 (32.2)
|
217 (70.2)
92 (29.8)
|
40 (57.1)
30 (42.9)
|
4.476 (1)
|
0.034
|
How often do you eat vegetables
Everyday
3 – 5 times per week
Rarely
|
27 (7.1)
215 (56.7)
137 (36.1)
|
21 (6.8)
185 (59.9)
103 (33.3)
|
6 (8.6)
30 (42.9)
34 (48.6)
|
6.831 (2)
|
0.033
|
How often do you eat fruits
Everyday
3 – 5 times per week
Rarely
|
73 (19.3)
156 (41.2)
150 (39.6)
|
64 (20.7)
132 (42.7)
113 (36.6)
|
9 (12.8)
24 (34.3)
37 (52.8)
|
6.640 (2)
|
0.036
|
How often do you eat fried food
Everyday
3 – 5 times per week
Rarely
|
38 (10.0)
213 (56.2)
128 (33.8)
|
33 (10.7)
168 (54.4)
108 (34.9)
|
5 (7.1)
45 (64.3)
20 (28.6)
|
2.399 (2)
|
0.301
|
Daily water intake
< 2 L
≥ 2 L
|
194 (51.2)
185 (48.9)
|
159 (51.5)
150 (48.5)
|
35 (50)
35 (50)
|
0.048 (1)
|
0.826
|
Lifestyle Practices of University Students
Most of the students, 318 (83.90%) bring lunch to the University with almost half 190 (50.13%) students having lunch in the campus cafeteria. 223 (58.8%) of students have regular home meals with more than half 207 (55.15%) students preparing their own meals consisting of eggs, toast, fruits, instant noodles, and sandwiches. Only 97 (25.59%) visit cafes more than 3 times per week while the rest opt to dine indoors. 177 (46.70%) students buy food that costs less, and 202 (53.30%) students buy healthy food. Only 95 (25.06%) students exercise regularly with the majority 262 (69.12%) consuming water as the major drink. Most of the students 228(60.10%) have more than 5 hours of screen time and 277 (73.08%) students have meals with TV or computer.
Table 2 shows the comparison of lifestyle choices of overweight and underweight individuals.
Table 2: Comparison of Lifestyle practices of under/normal weight and overweight/obese individuals
Variable
|
n=379
(%)
|
Non overweight / obese
n=309 (%)
|
Overweight / obese
n=70 (%)
|
x2 =
Statistics
(df)
|
P-value
|
Do you bring lunch to university?
Yes
No
|
318 (83.9)
611 (6.09)
|
259 (83.81)
50 (16.19)
|
59 (84.28)
11 (15.71)
|
0.009(1)
|
0.924
|
Where do you get lunch on a typical day?
I buy my lunch from campus cafeteria.
I go home for lunch.
I go to restaurants for lunch.
I don’t eat any lunch.
|
190 (50.13)
141 (37.20)
19 (5.01)
29 (7.65)
|
157 (50.80)
116 (37.54)
15 (4.85)
21 (6.79)
|
33 (47.14)
25 (35.71)
4 (5.71)
8 (11.43)
|
1.889(3)
|
0.596
|
How often you eat home cooked meal?
Always
Mostly
Sometimes
Never
|
67 (17.67)
156 (41.16)
131 (34.35)
25 (6.59)
|
60 (19.41)
126 (40.77)
104 (33.65)
19 (6.14)
|
7 (10.00)
30 (42.85)
27 (38.57)
6 (8.57)
|
3.830(3)
|
0.280
|
What do you usually eat when you have to prepare your own meal?
Rice, meat, vegetables and fruits
Egg, bread, toast
Instant noodles, sandwiches, omelette
I don’t prepare my own meals
|
113 (29.81)
8 (2.11)
87 (22.95)
170 (44.85)
|
94 (30.42)
6 (1.94)
74 (23.94)
135 (43.68)
|
19 (27.14)
2 (2.85)
13 (18.57)
35 (50.00)
|
18.079(19)
|
0.517
|
How often do you visit cafes/restaurants
<3 times per week
3 or more times per week
|
282 (74.40)
97 (25.59)
|
234 (75.72)
75(24.27)
|
48 (68.57)
22 (32.14)
|
1.535(1)
|
0.215
|
How often do you order food takeaways/deliveries?
<3 times per week
3 or more times per week
|
282 (71.03)
97 (28.07)
|
233 (75.40)
76 (24.60)
|
49(70.00)
21 (30.00)
|
0.875(1)
|
0.349
|
Do you choose food that costs less of healthy/nutritious food?
Food that costs less
Healthy/nutritious food
|
177 (44.5)
202 (55.42)
|
134 (43.36)
175 (56.63)
|
43 (61.44)
27 (38.77)
|
7.81(1)
|
0.006
|
How often do you exercise?
Everyday
Once or twice per week 3-4 Times / week
Rarely
|
28 (7.05)
56 (14.10)
67 (16.87)
228 (57.43)
|
22 (7.11)
46 (14.88)
52 (16.82)
189 (61.16)
|
6 (8.57)
10 (14.28)
15 (21.42)
39 (55.71)
|
1.142(3)
|
0.767
|
Which drinks do you consume the most?
Water
Coffee/Tea
Soft drinks
Juice
|
262 (65.99)
69 (17.38)
32 (8.44)
16 (4.22)
|
217 (70.22)
52 (16.82)
24 (7.76)
16 (5.24)
|
45 (64.28)
17 (24.28)
8 (11.42 )
0 (0.0)
|
6.565(3)
|
0.087
|
What is your average screen time?
1-2 hours/day
3-4 hours/day
- hours/day
>6 hours /day
|
38 (10.02)
113 (29.81)
96(25.32)
132 (34.82)
|
34 (11.00)
92 (29.77)
79 (25.56)
104 (33.65)
|
4 (5.71)
21 (30.00)
17 (24.28)
28 (40.00)
|
2.289(3)
|
0.515
|
Do you often eat meals while watching TV or computer?
Yes
No
|
277 (73.08)
102 (26.91)
|
224 (72.49)
85 (27.51)
|
53 (75.71)
17 (24.29)
|
0.301(1)
|
0.583
|
Dieting, Balanced Nutrition, and Self Body Image
The majority of students i.e., 240 (63.33%) knew about the food pyramid, and 361 (95.25%) were aware of the concept of a balanced diet. The majority of the students i.e., 327 (86.27%) were concerned with body image, with less than half students 159(41.95%) having tried dieting before.
Table 3 shows the knowledge and attitudes of the students regarding dieting, balanced nutrition, and self-body image.
Table 3: Knowledge and views on dieting, balanced nutrition and self body image of under/normal weight and overweight/obese individuals
Variable
|
n = 379
(%)
|
Non overweight
n = 309 (%)
|
Overweight
n = 70 (%)
|
Do you know about food pyramid?
Yes
No
|
240 (63.3)
139 (36.7)
|
202 (65.4)
107 (34.6)
|
38 (54.3)
32 (45.7)
|
What is balanced nutrition?
A diet consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables
A diet consisting mainly of meat
A diet consisting of meat vegetables and other varieties of foods
Others
|
11 (2.9)
4 (1.1)
361 (95.2)
3 (0.8)
|
11 (3.6)
4 (1.3)
292 (94.5)
2 9 (0.6)
|
0 (0)
0 (0)
69 (98.6)
1 (1.4)
|
Are you concerned about your body size and physical appearance?
Yes
No
|
327 (86.3)
52 (13.7)
|
263 (85.1)
46 (14.9)
|
64 (91.4)
6 (8.6)
|
Have you tried dieting before?
Yes
No
|
159 (41.9)
220 (58.0)
|
108 (34.9)
201 (65.0)
|
51 (72.9)
19 (27.1)
|
Reasons for dieting?
To be slim/thin and confident
To be strong and healthy
To look beautiful in clothes
To maintain weight
|
59 (15.6)
167 (44.1)
39 (10.3)
114 (30.1)
|
42 (13.6)
144 (46.6)
25 (8.1)
98 (31.7)
|
17 (24.3)
23 (32.9)
14 (20)
16 (22.8)
|