Weight status and related factors in medical students of King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia

Introduction and Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of obesity and related factors among students of College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A total of 560 medical students of different levels participated in this cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in the period between January 2016 and January 2017. The data were collected through a validated, self-administered questionnaire. Weight and height readings were taken using a calibrated manual scale. Results: Out of 560 respondents, 54.8% were females, whereas 45.2% were males. Mean ± standard deviation was 22.05 ± 1.8. The body mass index was calculated from the weight (kg) and height (m2) of the participants. Underweight was found in 16% of the participants, normoweight in 55%, overweight in 21%, and obese in 8%. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be high among medical students of College of Medicine, King Khalid University, particularly among female students. There is a need for a program to promote healthy eating and exercise among the students.