A STUDY ON PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THREE DISTRICTS OF KASHMIR VALLEY, NORTH INDIA.
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Abstract
Background: The Kashmir Valley is undergoing rapid nutritional transition, shifting from traditional home-cooked meals to high-calorie processed foods. However, district-wise data on overweight/obesity among college-aged youth remain scarce.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and anthropometric patterns of overweight and obesity among college students in three distinct districts of Kashmir Division (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla) and to identify gender-specific differences.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,050 students. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight (BMI calculation), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). WHO criteria for BMI and Asian-specific WC cutoffs were used.
Results: Overall prevalence: Overweight – 22.4% (235 students), Obesity – 9.5% (100 students). Srinagar had the highest rates (Overweight 28.9%, Obesity 14.6%), followed by Anantnag (22.3%, 8.9%) and Baramulla (15.7%, 4.6%). Central obesity (WC ≥90cm M / ≥80cm F) was present in 31.4% of students. Females showed significantly higher obesity rates (11.2% vs. 7.8% in males, p=0.04), particularly abdominal obesity.
Conclusion: Urbanization drives obesity in Kashmir's youth, but even rural Areas shows concerning overweight rates (15.7%). Gender-specific interventions targeting female abdominal obesity are urgently needed.
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Tufeel Ahad Baba
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Rohilkhand medical college and Hospital, Barielly UP India.
Nazia Zahoor
Assistant Professor, Department of community medicine, Government medical college Handwara, Kashmir, J&K, India.
Mutahar Mearaj Khan
PG SCHOLAR, Government medical college Baramulla.
