A Study on Prevalence of Obesity in Young Adoloscent Medicos in a Medical College in Andhrapradesh

Background: Obesity is a morbid disorder which has roots in childhood and continues in life. Obesity is attributed to various diseases. Screening for obesity at intervals at all ages would help possibly, by interventions that can reduce obesity, or the diseases attributed to obesity as a precursor or risk factor. Aim: To study the prevalence of obesity among young adolescent medicos, admitted and studying in a medical college in Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: This study was done in students admitted in a medical college. The college had random representation across districts of Andhra Pradesh. 150 students were studied. Body mass index was used as an evaluation tool, which uses height in meter2 as denominator and weight in kilograms as numerator. The values were analyzed as average, mean and standard deviation. Results: Among 150 students, 112 were normal weight, 8 underweight, 23 overweight and 07 were overweight. Conclusion: Obesity is prevalent in all ages including adolescents and evaluation of obesity should be done at all ages starting from schooling and necessary counselling and lifestyle modifications should be done at the earliest to prevent the onset of diseases.