Obesity and Hypertension in Students of Jahangirnagar University: Alarming Issues

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and hypertension (HTN) in university students of Bangladesh has not reported yet. Considering the proper health maintenance of this population in mind, the study was aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and HTN as well as relationship among them in the students of a residential university of Bangladesh, Jahangirnagar University. This descriptive cross sectional study included 500 randomly selected students (250 males and 250 females). Participants completed a questionnaire on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, dietary factors, smoking and family history of obesity, HTN, and coronary artery disease. Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured following standard procedure. The Statistical analyses were performed using the software SPSS.The prevalence of overweight was 25% (31.1% males, 15.6% females) and obesity 7.2% (9.4% males, 4% females). Pre-HTN was found at 27.1% (38% males, 11.2% females) and HTN at 2.2% (3.3% males, 0.4% females). A high rate of smoking, sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, excessive consumption of unhealthy food, and caffeine-rich drinks was also observed. Significant correlation was found between parameters of obesity and HTN. High prevalence of pre-HTN in males and central obesity in females were found which is immediately needed to control for better health maintenance of this population.

The prevalence of general obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertension and its related risk factors among young adult students in Bangladesh

“…In the present study, males had a 2‐fold higher hypertension prevalence than females (12.2% vs. 6.1%). A higher level of hypertension prevalence has also been found among university male students (9.2% vs. 2%) in a previous study conducted in the Dhaka region 32 . Another study reported a similar finding for hypertension prevalence among medical students (12.1% vs. 3.4%), in the Dhaka region of Bangladesh 13 .…”

“…A higher level of hypertension prevalence has also been found among university male students (9.2% vs. 2%) in a previous study conducted in the Dhaka region. 32 Another study reported a similar finding for hypertension prevalence among medical students (12.1% vs. 3.4%), in the Dhaka region of Bangladesh. 13 In Saudi Arabia, a higher prevalence of hypertension was also found among male (18.5%) students than in female (5.3%) students.…”

“…In this cross-sectional study, the overall prevalence of general region, reported a lower prevalence of general obesity (2%) among university students with a higher rate of prevalence in females than males (0.8% vs. 3.2%). 32 A higher prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was found in males (14.8%) than in the female students (11.8%) selected from three public universities in Bangladesh. 33 In our study, the prevalence rate of general obesity was slightly higher in females but the difference was not significant between the sex, however, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was significantly higher in females than in males.…”

Frequency of obesity and comorbidities in medical students

“…Excess body weight may account for up to 26% of cases of hypertension in men and 28% in women 28. Hypertension rate was 11.1% in our study while 11.2% of the university students were suffering from hypertension in Sudip Paul’s study 12. Weight loss in obese subjects is associated with a decline in blood pressure.…”

“…Consequently, obesity is increasing in the Kingdom at an alarming rate 11. Sudip Paul12 conducted an obesity study on university students of Bangladesh. He has reported 25% overweight that is almost similar to our findings (21.7%) but rate of obesity (4%) in his study is significantly less our findings (8.4%).…”