http://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0303-Jagjeet Kaur, Indarjit Walia
Abstract : A Descriptive Study on prevalence of obesity among nursing students done at NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh by measuring Body Mass Index. The study was carried out on 251 subjects aged 17 years to 43 years. Out off 251 participants 24(9.56%) participants were estimated under weight, 204(81.27%) were normal weight and 23 (9.16%) over weight. Out off 23 (9.16%) subjects15(5.97%) were pre obese and 8(3.18%) participants were obese class I. According to socio-demographic profile of subject’s parent residence depicts that out of 251students 45(17.92 %) were rural and 206 (82.07%) were urban. According to age it was observed that in 17-21years there were159 students. Out of these 16(10.06%) subjects estimated as underweight and 135(84.90%) were having normal weight where as 5(3.18) were over weight. In 22-26 years there were 68 students. Out of these 8(11.76%) subjects were estimated as underweight category and 55(80.88%) having normal weight where as 5(7.35%) were overweight. In>27 years there were 24 students. Out of these 14(58.33%) subjects were having normal weight and 10(41.66%) were estimated as over weight.
Key words :
Body Mass Index, Obesity
Correspondence at :
Jagjeet Kaur
National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Introduction
Obesity is an abnormal growth of adipose tissue due to an enlargement of fat cell size.4 obesity is growing rapidly through out the world in both adults as well as children. 1 People are putting on extra weight because of the improvement in standards of living, decrease in physical activities, dietary changes, dependence of men on machine . 2 It is a threat to health of children and adults Obesity is more prevalent form of malnutrition in both developed as well as developing countries. It is difficult to assess size of problem and compare the prevalence rates in different countries but obesity is more common in women than men.4 The growing prevalence of over weight and obesity has received an attention in many countries.4
Obese are at more risk of man made disease or health condition including HTN, type 2 disease, Cardiovascular disease, stroke, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleepapnea and respiratory problems, certain types of cancers (breast, Colon, endometrial.)11 Active individuals require more calories than less active ones.9 It is believed that obesity increases in the last 25 years of life because level of physical activity in every day life decrease.9
Body mass index BMI which is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters is the most widely used and is a simple measure of body size.4 Tool for data collection was developed which included the identification data, sociodemographic status (Parent residence) of subjects and measurement of body mass index. Body mass index was measured by following procedure. Weight : was measured in kilograms after removal of shoes while wearing. light clothes on a portable scale (Detecto Medic Detecto scales Inc. Brroklyn, N.Y., USA).
Height : was measured in meters with the help of tape measure without shoes in the standing position by maintaining body alignment straight along with scale in relaxed manner with arms hanging freely. BMI was measured by the formula weight in kilograms
/ Height in meters2. Weight status assessed by standard classification as following table I
|
Table: 1
Purpose of present the study was to explore the prevalence of obesity among nursing students.
Material and Methods
The study was conducted at National Institute of Nursing Education PGIMER, Chandigarh, Which is a premier institute of the country offering graduate and post graduate, degree courses in India. The present study was conduct on all the nursing student of this institute in the month of January February (11/1/08 – 5/2/08).
The collected data was summarized by using percentage, range and findings of the study having presented in the form of tables.
Results
Prevalence of obesity as per BMI: The table 4 shows the prevalence of obesity among the nursing students as per Body Mass Index. Among 251 students 24(9.56%) of the students were underweight 204(81.27%) of the students were having normal weight range and 23 (9.16%) were overweight [15 (5.97%) were pre obese and 8 (3.18%) of the students were obese Class I)].
Table 2: Prevalence of obesity as per body mass index
(N = 251)
| Category of BMI | BMI n (%) |
| Under weight | 24 (9.56) |
| Normal range | 204 (81.27) |
| Over weight | 23 (9.16) |
| i) Preobese | 15 (5.97) |
| ii) Obese Class I | 08 (3.18) |
| iii) Obese Class II | 00 (0.00) |
| iv) Obese Class III | 00 (0.00) |
Table 3: Socio-demographic profile of subjects parent residence
(N=251 )
| Habitat | n (%) |
| Rural | 45 (17.92%) |
| Urban | 206 (82.07%) |
Prevalence of obesity according to age
Table 4 depicts the prevalence of Obesity according to age. It was observed that in 17-21 years there were 159 students out of these subjects 16(10.06%) subjects estimated as underweight and 135 (84.90%) were having normal healthy weight and 8(5.03%) were over weight. Out of 8 (5.03%) over weight subjects 3 (1.88%) were pre obese and 5(3.14%) were obese class.
In the 22-26 years there were 68 students out of these 8(11.76%) were estimated under weight category and 55 (80.88%) were having normal healthy weight and 5 (7.35%) were estimated as over weight. Out of 5 (7.35%) over subjects 4(5.88%) were pre obese and 1 (1.47%) were obese class I. In the class of > 27 years there were 24 students out of these 14 (58.33%) were having normal weight range and 10 (41.66%) were having over weight. Out of 10 (41.66%) overweight subjects 8(33.33%) were pre obese and 2 (8.33%) were obese class I. Now were underweight in this group.
Table 4: Prevalence of obesity according to age. (N=251 )
| Age (Years) | Under Weight n(%) | Normal Weight n(%) | Over Weight |
| Preobese Obese class
n(%) n(%) |
|||
| 17-21 (N=159) | 16(10.06) | 135(84.90) | 3(1.88) 5(3.14) |
| 22-26(N=68) | 08(11.76) | 55(80.88) | 4(5.88) 1 (1.47) |
| >27 (N=24) | 00 | 14(58.33) | 8(33.33) 2(8.33) |
Discussion
Overweight and obesity are common health conditions because people are putting extra weight that may be with the improvement in standards of living, decrease in physical activities, dietry changes, dependence on machines, and other life style changes . Thus obesity has become a serious health problem in the developed as well as developing countries 2. To assess prevalence of obesity, Body Mass Index is a commonly used parameter. The influence of overweight & underweight on various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases is multiplicative, so weight loss and weight gain should be advocated to those who fall in the above said category. The present study was an attempt to identify overweight & underweight nursing students by body mass index. As indicated by BMI about 9.16% were overweight and 9.56% were underweight.
In one of the studies conducted on young female students of medical and nursing whose ages ranged from 18-25 years. The prevalence rate of obesity by Body Mass Index was found to be 30.6% (26.1 % Obese Class I where as 4.5% (Obese Class 11)2 .Whereas the result of the present study show that 23 subjects out of total sample of 251 were overweight class.
As we grow older, our metabolic rate slows down and we do not require as many calories to maintain our weight. People frequently state that they eat the same and do the same activities as they did when they were 20 years old, but at the age of 40 years are gaining weight5. This will happen because metabolism slows down with advancing age.10 Comparing these findings to current study subjects more than 27 years of age 14(5.6%) had normal healthy weight, whereas 10(3.98%) were over weight out of these 8(3.2%) preobese and 2(0.79%) obese class I.
Conclusion
The current study shows the prevalence rate of obesity collectively from all age groups we find the prevalence of obesity and under weight is approximately equal to each other . There is a need to be aware of both as they can lead to problems in late life. The over weight is prone to cardiovascular, diabetes etc. while the under weight may be anemic, suffering from mal-nutrition and more prone to infection.
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