Management of health care programs: Overweight and obesity in university medical students in Mexico

Abstract

Overweight and obesity in university medical students have emerged as public health concerns, reflecting a global trend towards an increase in these problems in the young population; this phenomenon is attributed to a combination of factors, including intensive academic load, stress associated with medical training and changes in eating habits during university life. Overweight and obesity are health problems that have reached alarming proportions in Mexico in recent decades, becoming a major public health problem. These conditions not only affect adults, but also children and adolescents, generating an impact significant in the quality of life and increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. The objective of the research was to identify the frequency of overweight and obesity in undergraduate university students. The methodology involved a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional cohort study in which data were collected through the assessment of body composition (height, weight, body mass index) applied to 159 medical social service interns to obtain data on weight, height, body mass index, waist and hip circumference. The results reveal that 48.9% of the student population is overweight or obese, predominantly female. It is concluded that it is crucial to raise awareness about this phenomenon and promote healthy lifestyle habits in university students through health care programs established as part of their university life.