1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission's K.V. Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu
2Professor & HOD, Dept. of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission's K.V. Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu
3Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
Online published on 6 March, 2013.
Obesity is one of the most visible yet neglected public health problems. With growing economy of India; lifestyle and dietary habits are changing at a rapid pace inviting obesity related diseases.
To study the dietary habits of students, residing in the hostel, classified as per body mass index (BMI). To investigate relationship between the body composition and dietary habits and exercise level among college students.
Study group comprised of medical undergraduate students (134 male, 66 female). History of diet, junk food intake and exercise was noted. Height, weight and percent body fat were measured. Total calorie intake (TCI), junk food (JF) intake, energy expenditure through exercise (EEE) and BMI were calculated. Intergroup and intragroup habits were compared by unpaired t test and one way ANOVA. Relationship between body composition and TCI, JF and EEE was obtained by Pearson coefficient of correlation.
Proportion of underweight, normal BMI, overweight and obese was 28.36, 55.22, 10.45 and 5.97% in males and 18.18, 51.52, 18.18 and 12.12% in females respectively. The intergroup differences in weight, body fat, JF intake were significant (P<0.05) in both groups. JF intake was significantly correlated with body fat. EEE had significant negative correlation with body fat in male subjects.
The major determinant of body fat was JF intake. For maintaining optimum body composition it is necessary to limit the amount of JF intake.
Dietary habits, Body mass index, Body fat, Junk food
