DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i03.006

Pages: 653-663

There are several methods can be used to assess nutritional status, among these methods is Body Mass Index (BMI). Therefore this cross-sectional study examined differences in body weight of male and female medical students in relation of socioeconomic variables. The Participants completed the self-administration Questionnaire. Body weights, and height were measured for calculating BMI. A total of 579 students in which 95 (16.4%) and 484 (83.6%) male and female respectively. The mean age of our subject’s ±SD was 21.1 ±1.6 ranged from 21.6 or 20.9 male and female respectively. About 4% of males and 9% of females were underweight, while the percentage of obesity almost same among both genders 37.1%, 36.6 respectively. Based on age classification, we found that the majorities of our participants aged groups 18-24 were obese (64%) whereas those aged group 25 years old and over were normal weight (93%). Classification of body mass index among our medical faculty branches shown significant increase in obese students with highly prevalent in dental followed by public health and medical. A number of different variables were statistically significant associated with body weight; socioeconomic factors, eating habit, physical activities, daily activities and chronic diseases in which P value p< 0.05. Chronic diseases have positive association with body weight rather than being negatively, which mean those subjects suffering from chronic diseases had higher body mass index than those with none. This study highlights the presence of significant different in body weight among four different medical faculties background. Furthermore, presence of socioeconomic variable showed strong impact on the study samples. Despite this study need further investigation and larger sample in which to mask bias.