Aim: The present study aimed to find out the extent of the problem
of obesity and to assess the subjects’ awareness of risk factors and
complications of obesity.
Introduction: The World Health Organisation has described
obesity as one of the most neglected public health issues. Initially, obesity
was only a problem in high-income countries; however, at present, it is rising
in middle and low-income countries as well, rapidly in India. Globally,
non-communicable diseases are increasingly recognized as a major cause of
morbidity and mortality. The countries of the Southeast Asia region are facing
a double burden, with a heavy load of infectious diseases and an increasing
burden due to non-communicable diseases. The growing prevalence of
non-communicable diseases, especially in emerging nations like India, poses a
challenge to the already overburdened healthcare system. Non-communicable
diseases include a variety of illnesses, with obesity being a more frequent
cause.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was
carried out in November 2012. The study was conducted among all 1st and 2nd
year female MBBS students of Katuri Medical College, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh).
Height and weight were measured using the standard procedures suggested by
Jelliffe. Body Mass Index was computed using the formula [weight in (kg) /
height (m2)].
Results: Using the BMI cut-off points, the findings revealed
that 23.30 % of study subjects were overweight and 12.50 % of study subjects
were obese. When the girls were asked about factors contributing to obesity, an
overwhelming majority (85.80%) of the subjects attributed diet to obesity. As
far as psychosocial problems are concerned, nearly 59.66 of the subjects
mentioned low self-esteem as a complication related to obesity. Obesity is
known to increase the risk of various diseases and awareness of them is the
first step towards taking steps to prevent this. While a high level of
awareness is present among medical students regarding major complications of
obesity but for other complications, they should also get health education.
Conclusion: The higher prevalence of overweight and obesity
in this young age range necessitates immediate attention to prevention and
control. Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of a variety of ailments,
and becoming aware of this is the first step toward taking preventative
measures. While medical students exhibit a high level of awareness regarding
major complications of obesity, they should also receive health education
regarding other complications. This study is significant for the scientific
community due to its focus on perceptions of obesity among female medical
students in South India. It provides crucial insights into the prevalence of
overweight and obesity, as well as awareness of associated risks among future
healthcare professionals.
Author(s) Details
Pravin N Yerpude
Department of Community Medicine, Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences,
Chhindwara (M.P.)-480001, India
Keerti S Jogdand
Department of Community Medicine, Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences,
Chhindwara (M.P.)-480001, India.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/dhrni/v1/1378
No comments:
Post a Comment