Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra

Context: Obesity has negative health impacts. Obese people have higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Overweight and obesity during young adulthood can track into later adulthood along with its higher risk for NCDs. Aims: To identify the weight control intention and dietary practices used...

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Main Authors: H K Thakkar, K Srivastava, S K Misra, S C Gupta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
Series:Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2013;volume=6;issue=1;spage=66;epage=70;aulast=Thakkar
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spelling doaj-3970a41a52ab407f95add445cdbd247e2020-11-24T22:10:03ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMedical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University0975-28702013-01-0161667010.4103/0975-2870.108648Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of AgraH K ThakkarK SrivastavaS K MisraS C GuptaContext: Obesity has negative health impacts. Obese people have higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Overweight and obesity during young adulthood can track into later adulthood along with its higher risk for NCDs. Aims: To identify the weight control intention and dietary practices used among normal, overweight, and obese college females and to know the reasons for discontinuation among ever tried subjects. Settings and Design : A cross-sectional study conducted in urban and rural colleges of Agra. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 400 female college students. Height and weight were measured to assess body composition according to BMI (Body Mass Index) criteria (WHO 2002). Study included a semi-structured and semi-open-ended instrument to assess practices related to weight control. Their responses were collected, tabulated, analyzed, and interpreted. Statistical analysis used: Frequency. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 18.5% and 4.5%, respectively, according to BMI (WHO 2002). One third of the subjects were recording their weight monthly. Slightly less than half of the subjects (46%) were trying to maintain optimum weight. Almost one third of these subjects (33.5%) were presently trying to lose weight. About one fifth of total 400 subjects (20.5%) were not concerned about their weight status. Majority of the subjects (85%) irrespective of their obesity status did not take any professional advice. More than half (52.7%) were resorting to physical activity to lose weight. Taking more fruits/vegetables (44.7%) was found to be the most common healthy dieting practices and most unhealthy was fasting (15.3%). More than one fourth (28.8%) of the subjects abandoned weight control practices because of shortage of time followed by 22.4% due to physical weakness. Conclusions: Collectively, results indicate female college students, regardless of weight status, would benefit from open discussions with health educators regarding healthy and effective dieting practices to achieve/maintain a healthy body weight.http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2013;volume=6;issue=1;spage=66;epage=70;aulast=ThakkarBody mass indexoverweightobesityweight control practicesweight control intention
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author H K Thakkar
K Srivastava
S K Misra
S C Gupta
spellingShingle H K Thakkar
K Srivastava
S K Misra
S C Gupta
Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University
Body mass index
overweight
obesity
weight control practices
weight control intention
author_facet H K Thakkar
K Srivastava
S K Misra
S C Gupta
author_sort H K Thakkar
title Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
title_short Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
title_full Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
title_fullStr Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
title_full_unstemmed Obesity and weight control measures: Findings from female college students of Agra
title_sort obesity and weight control measures: findings from female college students of agra
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University
issn 0975-2870
publishDate 2013-01-01
description Context: Obesity has negative health impacts. Obese people have higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Overweight and obesity during young adulthood can track into later adulthood along with its higher risk for NCDs. Aims: To identify the weight control intention and dietary practices used among normal, overweight, and obese college females and to know the reasons for discontinuation among ever tried subjects. Settings and Design : A cross-sectional study conducted in urban and rural colleges of Agra. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 400 female college students. Height and weight were measured to assess body composition according to BMI (Body Mass Index) criteria (WHO 2002). Study included a semi-structured and semi-open-ended instrument to assess practices related to weight control. Their responses were collected, tabulated, analyzed, and interpreted. Statistical analysis used: Frequency. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 18.5% and 4.5%, respectively, according to BMI (WHO 2002). One third of the subjects were recording their weight monthly. Slightly less than half of the subjects (46%) were trying to maintain optimum weight. Almost one third of these subjects (33.5%) were presently trying to lose weight. About one fifth of total 400 subjects (20.5%) were not concerned about their weight status. Majority of the subjects (85%) irrespective of their obesity status did not take any professional advice. More than half (52.7%) were resorting to physical activity to lose weight. Taking more fruits/vegetables (44.7%) was found to be the most common healthy dieting practices and most unhealthy was fasting (15.3%). More than one fourth (28.8%) of the subjects abandoned weight control practices because of shortage of time followed by 22.4% due to physical weakness. Conclusions: Collectively, results indicate female college students, regardless of weight status, would benefit from open discussions with health educators regarding healthy and effective dieting practices to achieve/maintain a healthy body weight.
topic Body mass index
overweight
obesity
weight control practices
weight control intention
url http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2013;volume=6;issue=1;spage=66;epage=70;aulast=Thakkar
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AT scgupta obesityandweightcontrolmeasuresfindingsfromfemalecollegestudentsofagra
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