Lifestyle Risk Factors of General and Abdominal Obesity in Students of the School of Medicine and Health Science of the University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity among students of the University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UDS-SMHS), Tamale, Ghana. Also, lifestyle risk factors for the two obesity indices were investigated. This study was conducted among a sample of 646 students. Anthropometric measures of weight, height, and waist circumference were appropriately assessed. The prevalence of general and abdominal obesity was 1.9% and 4.2%, respectively. Risk factors of general obesity were being female (crude OR = 6.9, 95% CI = 1.85–25.80, P = 0.0021 ), engaging in light PA (OR = 12.45, 95% CI = 2.96–52.41, P = 0.0006 ), being aged 28–37 years (OR = 5.37, 95% CI = 1.39–20.68, P = 0.0329 ), nonintake of coffee (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.10–15.28, P = 0.0357 ), being married (OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.48–22.02, P = 0.0286 ), and being abdominally obese (OR = 02.7, 95% CI = 25.61–11.60, P < 0.0001 ). Risk factors for abdominal obesity were being female, being married, having general obesity, and nonintake of coffee. Abdominal obesity was more prevalent than general obesity. Risk factors included being female, married, and generally obese and nonintake of coffee.