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Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University

Students in Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study

Article  in  Journal of Food & Nutritional Disorders · June 2016

DOI: 10.4172/2324-9323.1000201

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Karmakar et al., J Food Nutr Disor 2016, 5:4
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000201
Research Article
Food Habits, Obesity and
Nutritional Knowledge among the
University Students in Noakhali
Region of Bangladesh: A Cross
Sectional Study
Karmakar P1*, Jahan N1, Banik S1, Das A1, Rahman KA2, Kundu
SK3 and Sattar MM3
Abstract
Objective: Obesity is emerging as a foremost health problem. In
this regard, the study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence
of overweight and obesity rates in association with food habits and
nutritional knowledge among the university students of Noakhali
region, a southern coastal area of Bangladesh.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the
period of October to December in 2013. A total of 200 students
(50% male and 50% female) aged 18-24 years participated in
the present study. Statistical analysis was done by using the
SPSS software (version 16) to determine overweight and obesity
among students and to sort out eating habits.
Results: The study results found that the majority (70%) of
the students were of normal weight; 77% male in contrast to
66% female students (P<0.05). The study also reported that
prevalence of overweight and obesity was frequent among
male students compared to female students (P<0.05). The
study results demonstrated that irregular intake of breakfast
and dinner, eating junk food and fried food regularly, lack of
knowledge about balance nutrition and obesity, habits of eating
outside of the residence frequently and sleeping at noon regularly
are the reasons behind the overweight and obesity. Moreover,
students were also found not to take part in regular exercise or
sports which are considered as a major risk factor to become
overweight or obese. Intake of fruits was rare among students
with an insignificant gender difference in the frequency of fruits
intake (P>0.05). Intake of alcohol containing beverages and
smoking was not common among female students but it’s familiar
with male students. Conclusion: Our findings recommend that
the propensity of overweight and obesity among the university
students can be reduced by providing proper knowledge at all
levels (family, institution, community and government) on the
healthy diet, improved lifestyle and harmful effect of obesity.
Keywords
Food habits; Overweight; Obesity; BMI; Nutrition; University students
*Corresponding author: Palash Karmakar, Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali
Science and Technology University Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh, Tel: + 88-
01717-036968; E-mail: pk@nstu.edu.bd
Received: March 22, 2016 Accepted: June 09, 2016 Published: June 14,
2016
All articles published in Journal of Food & Nutritional Disorders are the property of SciTechnol, and is protected by copyright
International Publisher of Science, laws. Copyright © 2016, SciTechnol, All Rights Reserved.
Technology and Medicine
Journal of Food &
Nutritional Disorders
a SciTechnol journal
Introduction
Obesity, the most prevalent health issue, is often defined as an
abnormal and extreme accumulation of body fat [1] that adversely
affects our health. The prevalence of obesity is rising globally at
an alarming rate in both developing and developed countries. It is
considered as a serious epidemic health problem, anticipated to be
the 5th foremost cause of mortality worldwide [2].
The manifestation of obesity is rising in recent times at an
alarming rate in low and middle-income countries, particularly in
urban settings, although a few years ago it was considered a problem
only in high income countries [3]. According to WHO’s latest
projection, in 2014 there were about 1.9 billion overweight adults (age
18+) and at least 600 million obese adults throughout the world [4].
In case of developing countries the scenario is devastating. The rate of
obesity has tripled in developing countries over the past 20 years due
to rapid urbanization, change in dietary pattern and adoption of a
more sedentary lifestyle [5,6]. In comparison with other South Asian
countries, the rate of obesity in Bangladesh is increasing at a slower
pace. At present there are about 17% of overweight or obese adults in
Bangladesh among which just 4% are obese [7].
Obesity development mechanism is not clearly understood
yet and it is believed to be a disorder with various difficulties. This
disorder is connected with an increased regularity of diseases like
hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, gout and gall bladder
diseases [8]. The key factors such as twin trends of changing dietary
patters, decreased physical activity, environmental factors, daily
life preferences and the civilizing surroundings play fundamental
roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. In addition,
obese parents, low socioeconomic status and limited intake of fruits
and vegetables are the risk factors of obesity [3]. Its occurrence is
increasing dramatically in spite of age and geographical variation. As
a result, various recent studies mentioned that overweight and obesity
are now more common among the young [9].
A detailed literature review reveals that one of the foremost
causes of obesity is the changes in the diet, in sense of quantity and
quality which has turned more ‘Westernized’ [10]. Several studies
in different countries revealed the escalating prevalence of both
overweight and obesity observed among the university students
because of the irregular food habits of the university students. Usually
they take food from residential hall or canteen in which food value is
very low [11,12]. Moreover intake of junk food (foods which are rich
in calories, salt and fats but has low nutritive value) also make them
amenable to overweight and obese [13-21]. Again obesity along with
unhealthy life style like smoking and physical inactivity may enhance the
risk of chronic diseases. In this regard proper knowledge of nutrition may
act as a deterrent against fast-food trend and also contribute significantly
in reducing the prevalence of obesity among the young population
through the promotion of healthy eating habits [9].
Considering the aforementioned evidence, our present study was
undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity rates
among the university students in Bangladesh and also to examine
their eating habits and nutritional knowledge for demonstrating a
correlation between weight statuses and eating behaviour.
Citation: Karmakar P, Jahan N, Banik S, Das A, Rahman KA, et al. (2016) Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University Students in
Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Disor 5:4.
Methods
Study design and sampling
This community based cross-sectional study was conducted
among the university students of Noakhali, a coastal expanse of
Bangladesh during October to December, 2013. A total of 200
students (100 males and 100 females) aged 18-24 years participated
in the present study. All the participants willingly joined in this study
providing written consent. The study protocol was approved by the
Department of Pharmacy and supervised by the residential physician
of Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh.
Data collection and measurements
The procedure of data collection was segmented into three
steps. The first step was to fill out the questionnaire including socio-
demographic and anthropometric information by the study subjects.
The second step was to focus group discussion about the study
protocol, and the final step was to cross-check interviews with key
informants. Self-reported detailed information regarding socio-
demographic and anthropometric information including age, gender,
height, weight, dietary behavior; eating, drinking and smoking habits
was collected from each student. The questionnaire was adopted
from a formerly published study [13,14] standardized for university
students. The questionnaire was administered by trained 4th year
bachelor of pharmacy (B.Pharm) students. Before filling out the
questionnaire, the students were informed by an instructor of the
study focusing on obesity, obesity problems, proper nutrition and its
impacts on health and were also given directions on how to fill out
the questionnaire absolutely and frankly. We included some of the
exclusion criteria such as chronic diseases and taking medications on
regular basis from the study subjects.
Body mass index (BMI) which was used in this study to evaluate
students’ weight status is calculated as a way of weight in kilogram
divided by height in meter square (BMI= kg/m2). Using BMI chart, it is
feasible to categorize the level of obesity by reference to internationally
accepted ranges, beginning from underweight (BMI˂18.5), normal
weight (BMI=18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9) and obese
(BMI ≥ 30.0). Moreover, obesity was subdivided into three classes:
Class I (BMI=30-34.9), Class II (BMI=35-39.9) and Class III or
extreme obesity (BMI ≥ 40) [15,16].
Data analysis
Descriptive statistics were given for all variables using SPSS
software package (version 16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results
were expressed as mean ± SEM (standard error of mean). Statistical
comparisons were conducted between parametric variables and
non-parametric variables using student t-test, chi-squared tests
respectively. All reported p values of <0.05 were considered as
statistically significant.
Results
General characteristics of the participants
The characteristics of the study subjects along with their weight,
height and BMI are represented in Table 1. The results showed that
there was a significant difference between the mean values of weight
(P<0.001) and height (P<0.05) but the BMI value was insignificant
(P>0.05) according to each variable. A total of 200 students (100
Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000201
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000201
males and 100 females) with an average age of 22.57 ± 1.53 years
participated in this study. The mean weight and height of the students
were 62.37 ± 11.49 kg and 1.65 ± 0.10 m respectively. The average
BMI of the male and female students was respectively 22.35 ± 2.51 kg/
m2 and 20.69 ± 3.18 kg/m2 (Table 1).
Prevalence of overweight/obesity
Based on BMI classification of weight status, findings of this study
mentioned that the majority (70%) of the students were of normal
weight (77% males compared to 66% females) and statistical data was
significant (P<0.001) as presented in Table 2. Overweight and obese
students represented 12% and 1% of the participants respectively
compared to 17% underweight subjects. The prevalence of overweight
and obesity was more frequent among male students compared to
females (12 and 1 vs. 9 and 1, respectively). From this study we found
that the total percentage of underweight male and female participants
was 10% and 24% respectively.
Dietary behaviors of the participants
Dietary behaviors of the students were compared by gender
presented in Table 3. The vast majority (85.5%) of them were reported
to be taking meals regularly whereas irregular meal consumption rate
was reported to be 14.5%. 93% female students were reported to be
eating meal regularly compared to 78% of male students. Female
students showed better eating habits in terms of breakfast eating
(75%) and diner frequency (90%) in contrast to male students
(64% and 75% respectively). The tabulated results showed that
about 38.5% of the participants preferred vegetables as their
favorite food while 34.5% preferred meat as favorite. It was also
found that about 86% of the students take their favorite food thrice
or four times daily and about 11% students take it once or twice
per day. Eating junk food is a common habit of the students as
70.5% student’s preferred taking junk food in comparison to other
foods and about 25% of them take it daily and another 24% take it
once or twice per week. Daily junk food intake rate is more than
twice for male (34%) in comparison to female students (16%).
Female students tend to eat more fruits daily and three to four
times per week as compared to male students (15% vs. 11% and
40% vs. 14% respectively). Eating fried foods daily (27.5%), once
or twice per week (29.5%) or three to four times per week (26%)
was common among students. We have seen that 71% of the
students preferred traditional cooking method while 12.5% and
15.5% preferred grilled and boiled cooking methods respectively.
In addition, a majority (38.5%) of the students were found to
have meals outside hotels and restaurants once or twice per week
while 21.5% and 12% students had their meals outside daily and
three or four times per week respectively. We found that smoking
and alcohol consumption rate was not common among female
students. Our study reported that among male students 41% do
not smoke (non-smoker), 27% were ex-smokers and also 32%
were current smoker. Furthermore 25% male students were found
to drink alcohol related drinks or beverages.
Correlation between BMI and eating habits
Correlation of the BMI and eating habits of the students (Table 4)
demonstrated that BMI level had a significant (P=0.004) correlation
with cooking method preference. But all other dietary pattern
parameters were insignificantly (P>0.05) correlated with BMI level
of the students.
• Page 2 of 6 •
Citation: Karmakar P, Jahan N, Banik S, Das A, Rahman KA, et al. (2016) Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University Students in
Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Disor 5:4.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000201

Table 1: Characteristics of the study population.

Variable Males Females Total P value

Number of students (n) 100 100 200 -
Age (years) 22.56 ± 1.21 22.58 ± 1.84 22.57 ± 1.53 -
Weight (kg) 72.52 ± 12.32 52.22 ± 10.65 62.37 ± 11.49 0.000***
Height (m) 1.68 ± 0.11 1.61 ± 0.10 1.65 ± 0.10 0.042*
BMI (kg/m2) 22.35 ± 2.51 20.69 ± 3.18 22.52 ± 2.98 0.164
Results are expressed as mean ± SD; *** P<0.001, *P<0.05 was considered as significant

Table 2: Prevalence of obesity among participants based on BMI by gender.

Males (100) Females (100) Total (200)

BMI categories
N Percentage N Percentage N Percentage P value
Underweight 10 10 24 24 34 17 0.161
Normal weight 77 77 66 66 140 70 0.000***
Over weight 12 12 9 9 24 12 0.951
Obese 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
***
P<0.001 was considered as significant

Table 3: Dietary behaviors among the participants based on questionnaire.

S.No Questions Answer level Males Females Total (%)

Always regularly 78 93 171 (85.5)

1 Do you take meal regularly?
Irregular 22 7 35 (14.5)
Daily 64 75 139 (69.5)
2 Do you take breakfast?
Irregular 36 25 61 (30.5)
Daily 75 90 165 (82.5)
3 Do you take dinner?
Irregular 25 10 35 (17.5)
Rice Meat 13 10 23 (11.5)
Vegetables 44 25 69 (34.5)
4 What type of food do you prefer most?
Others 28 49 77 (38.5)
15 16 31 (15.5)
One to two times 15 7 22 (11)
5 How often do you eat your favorite food daily? Three to four times 80 91 172 (86)
More than four times 5 2 6 (3)
Yes 73 68 141 (70.5)
6 Do you prefer junk food?
No 27 32 59 (29.5)
Daily 34 16 50 (25)
Once to twice per week 23 25 48 (24)
7 How often do you eat junk foods?
Three or four times per week 15 17 32 (16)
Rarely 28 42 70 (35)
Daily 11 15 26 (13)
Once to twice per week 30 12 42 (21)
8 How often do you eat fruits?
Three to four times per week 14 40 54 (27)
Rarely 45 33 78 (39)
Daily 42 13 55 (27.5)
Once to twice per week 19 40 59 (29.5)
9 How often do you eat fried food?
Three to four times per week 29 23 52 (26)
Rarely 10 24 34 (17)
Traditional 61 81 142 (71)
Grilled 21 4 25 (12.5)
10 Mention your preferred cooking method.
Boiled 18 13 31 (15.5)
Others 0 2 2 (1)
Daily 34 8 43 (21.5)
Once to twice per week 31 47 77 (38.5)
11 How often do you eat outside?
Three to four times per week 12 12 24 (12)
Rarely 23 33 56 (28)
Current smoker 32 0 32 (16)
12 Please state your smoking history Ex-smoker 27 0 27 (13.5)
Never smoke 41 100 141 (70.5)
Yes 25 0 25 (12.5)
13 Do you drink alcohol?
No 75 100 175 (87.5)

Perception about healthy life style
Students’ perception about healthy life style is tabulated in Table
5. The study results revealed that there is a significant (P=0.000)
difference in perception between male and female students about a
balanced nutrition with a chi-square value of 36.59. Similar type of
significant (P=0.000) result was also found for the answers regarding
the hours of taking part in sports, hours of sleeping per day and
sleeping regularity at noon with chi-square value of 55.40, 17.64 and
63.36 respectively. It was found that there was a significant (P=0.082)

Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000201 • Page 3 of 6 •

Citation: Karmakar P, Jahan N, Banik S, Das A, Rahman KA, et al. (2016) Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University Students in
Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Disor 5:4.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000201

difference regarding the consciousness level about obesity and also a seen that irregular eating of fruits, regular eating of fried foods and
significant (P=0.003) variation in exercising hours between male and eating outside, irregular exercise and taking of tobacco and alcohol
female students. were associated with overweight or obesity of male students with high
odds ratio (Table 6). In case of female students skipping breakfast
Association between BMI and dietary and health behaviors (OR=1.137 CI=0.562-2.302) highly affects the outcome of being
Table 6 represents the probability of being obese or overweight in overweight or obesity.
response to dietary and health behaviors of the university students.
Discussion
It was found that the prevalence of being obese or overweight is
high among both males (OR=1.050, CI=0.594-1.857; OR=1.100, BMI value and BMI chart were demonstrated to evaluate
CI=0.618-1.959 and OR=1.025, CI=0.563-1.864 respectively) and weight status among the participants. Based on BMI categories of
females (OR=1.182, CI=0.632-2.210; OR=1.357, CI=0.378-4.869 weight status the current data demonstrated that the greater part
and OR=1.146, CI=0.581-2.261) who eat junk food, don’t follow a of students (70%) were of normal weight. Normal weight was more
balanced nutrition and sleep at noon on a regular basis. Again it was prevalent among males (77%) as compared to females (66%) as
Table 4: Correlations between BMI categories and eating habits.
BMI Categories
Question Chi Square (d.f.)
Answer levels Underweight Normal Overweight Obese Total (Percent)
asked P-value
(<18.5) (≥ 18.5 to ≤ 24.9) (≥ 25 to <30) (≥ 30)
A 31 121 18 1 171 (85.5) 3.01 (3)
Q1
B 3 22 3 1 29 (14.5) 0.390
A 24 98 16 1 139 (69.5) 0.88 (3)
Q2
B 10 45 5 1 61 (30.5) 0.829
A 31 118 15 1 165 (82.5) 5.02 (3)
Q3
B 3 25 6 1 35 (17.5) 0.170
A 5 17 1 0 23 (11.5)
B 9 50 8 2 69 (34.5) 7.11 (9)
Q4
C 15 55 7 0 77 (38.5) 0.626
D 5 21 5 0 31 (15.5)
A 2 18 2 0 22 (11)
6.73 (6)
Q5 B 30 123 17 2 172 (86)
0.347
C 2 2 2 0 6 (3)
A 23 102 14 2 141 (70.5) 1.17 (3)
Q6
B 11 41 7 0 59 (29.5) 0.890
A 7 38 5 0 50 (25)
B 8 35 4 1 48 (24) 4.30 (9)
Q7
C 7 23 2 0 32 (16) 0.761
D 12 47 10 1 70 (35)
A 2 14 2 0 18 (9)
B 13 50 7 0 70 (35) 5.85 (9)
Q8
C 6 15 4 1 26 (13) 0.755
D 13 64 8 1 86 (43)
A 7 39 9 0 55 (27.5)
B 8 44 6 1 59 (29.5) 11.43 (9)
Q9
C 8 38 5 1 52 (26) 0.248
D 11 22 1 0 34 (17)
A 25 110 7 0 142 (71)
B 4 14 6 1 25 (12.5) 24.26 (9)
Q10
C 5 17 8 1 31 (15.5) 0.004
D 0 2 0 0 2 (1)
A 2 34 6 1 43 (21.5)
B 15 53 8 1 77 (38.5) 11.68 (9)
Q11
C 8 15 1 0 24 (12) 0.232
D 9 41 6 0 56 (28)
A 3 26 3 0 32 (16)
3.04 (6)
Q12 B 4 20 3 0 27 (13.5)
0.804
C 27 97 15 2 141 (70.5)
A 4 16 4 1 25 (12.5) 3.64 (3)
Q13
B 30 127 17 1 175 (87.5) 0.304
P<0.05 was considered as significant

Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000201 • Page 4 of 6 •

Citation: Karmakar P, Jahan N, Banik S, Das A, Rahman KA, et al. (2016) Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University Students in
Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Disor 5:4.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2324-9323.1000201

Table 5: Healthy life style perception of students by gender.

Chi Square (d.f.)

Questions Answer level Males Females Total (%)
P-value
Yes 59 95 154 (77) 36.59 (1)
Do you follow a balanced nutrition?
No 41 5 46 (23) 0.000
Yes 56 55 111 (55.5) 0.02 (1)
Do you prefer to get rid of fat?
No 44 45 89 (44.5) 0.887
Yes 67 78 145 (72.5) 3.03 (1)
Are you conscious about obesity?
No 33 22 55 (27.5) 0.082
1 or 2 hours daily 51 4 55 (27.5) 55.40 (1)
How often do you take part in sports?
Irregularly 49 96 145 (72.5) 0.000
Yes 47 61 108 (54) 1.50 (1)
Are you conscious about the benefits of exercise?
No 53 49 102 (51) 0.221
1 or 2 hours daily 30 11 41 (20.5)
11.31 (2)
How long daily do you take exercise? Irregularly 18 26 44 (22)
0.003
None 52 63 115 (57.5)
<7.0 hours 15 8 23 (11.5)
17.64 (2)
How many hours do you sleep per day? ≥ 7.0 to ≤ 8.0 hours 83 72 155 (77.5)
0.000
>8.0 Hours 2 20 22 (11)
Regularly 35 28 63 (31.5) 63.36 (1)
Do you sleep at noon?
Irregularly 65 72 137 (68.5) 0.000
P<0.05 was considered as significant

Table 6: Association between BMI (overweight/obesity) and dietary and health behaviors in university students.
Variable Answer Male (n=100) Female (n=100)
Total (%) Odds ratio (95% C.I.) Total (%) Odds ratio (95% C.I.)
Yes 43 25
Eat junk food regularly 1.050 (0.594-1.857) 1.182 (0.632-2.210)
No 47 60
Yes 21 42
Eat fruits regularly 1.079 (0.554-2.102) 0.697 (0.382-1.272)
No 68 33
Yes 33 17
Skipping breakfast 0.955 (0.528-1.727) 1.137 (0.562-2.302)
No 56 58
Yes 63 28
Eat fried food regularly 1.010 (0.539-1.895) 0.944 (0.507-1.757)
No 26 47
Yes 38 17
Eating outside regularly 1.143 (0.643-2.033) 0.853 (0.411-1.769)
No 51 58
Yes 51 35
Following balanced nutrition 1.100 (0.618-1.959) 1.357 (0.378-4.869)
No 39 55
Yes 26 11
Exercise daily 1.038 (0.555-1.942) 0.719 (0.294-1.760)
No 63 64
Yes 31 19
Sleeping regularly at noon 1.025 (0.563-1.864) 1.146 (0.581-2.261)
No 59 56
Yes 29 0
Current tobacco use 1.103 (0.603-2.020) -
No 68 76
Yes 20 0
Alcohol drinking 1.150 (0.587-2.254) -
No 69 76

well as overweight rates were more common among male students
than female students. Overweight students represented 12% of the
participants, whereas only 1% was obese. Our finding outcomes were
reliable with the results of related studies in other Middle East and
some Western countries. A study conducted in Lebanon showed that
the prevalence of overweight and obesity rate among male students
was 37.5% and 12.5% respectively [9]. In contrast, another results
of similar studies concluded that only 7.9% of Iranian male college
students were above the normal body weight [17]. And also this rate
further decreased to 2.9% among college students in China with a
percentage of obesity which was as low as 0.4% [12]. According to
another cross-sectional study conducted in State University of the
Basque country among 749 students (68% females and 32% males),
prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was 25% in males compared
to 13.9% in females [18]. Above findings revealed that the lower rate
of overweight and obesity among female students because females are
more careful about their weight status than males, owing to society
perceptions which persuade females to be slim. Though some of the
above mentioned studies have small sample sizes, but their outcomes
still reflect differences in the rigorousness of obesity problems among
young adults all over the world.
In view of eating habits, our results showed that university students
generally don’t follow hale and hearty eating habits. Previous studies
mentioned that typically the diet of university students is high in fat
and low in fruits and vegetables [19]. They generally prefer fast food
and ready food items in different restaurants such as KFC, TFC etc.
due to its deliciousness, accessibility and expediency. In the present
study, the obtained data of eating habits revealed that the majority
of students eat meals regularly and eat breakfast daily. 85.5% of the
students take meals regularly among the respondents of the present
study in which 93% of the female students take meals regularly
compared to 78% of male students. The percentage of taking daily

Volume 5 • Issue 4 • 1000201 • Page 5 of 6 •

Citation: Karmakar P, Jahan N, Banik S, Das A, Rahman KA, et al. (2016) Food Habits, Obesity and Nutritional Knowledge among the University Students in
Noakhali Region of Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Study. J Food Nutr Disor 5:4.
breakfast is also higher in the female students (75%) compared
to male students (64%). A similar study conducted in Lebanon
[9] reported that majority of the students (61.4%) eat regular
meals and the female students showed healthier eating habits
compared to male students in terms of daily breakfast intake and
meal frequency. From our study it is evident that a major portion
(34.5%) of the students prefers meat as their favorite food and they
also prefer eating junk food (70.5%) on a regular interval per week.
Students often choose fast food due to its taste, easy availability
and cheapness. According to the study conducted by the American
Dietetic Association, fast food intake is the cause of obesity, or
being severely overweight [9,11].
However, there was an insignificant gender difference in the
frequency of fruits intake in the studied sample (p>0.05). The
intake of fruits and green vegetables among the students was not
very common. Daily and three to four times per week consumption
of fruits among the students was 13% and 27% respectively. The
unhealthy eating habit of students was noticed in the intake of food
as in our study we have found that almost half of the students eat
outside and take fried food either daily or once or twice per week. A
previous study demonstrated that frequent snacking and eating fried
food can adversely affect students’ health status [9]. This study also
reveals that, alcohol consumption and smoking were not common
in female students but the male students were familiar with this habit
in a percentage of 16%. Another study conducted on cigarette and
nargileh smoking in Lebanon [20,21] among 2443 students from
13 public and private schools reported that the prevalence rate of
cigarette smoking was 2.5%.
Limitations
The probable drawback of this study was that due to lack of fund
we collected limited data of only the students of Noakhali Science
and Technology University which may not be a representative of
all university students in Bangladesh. Another possible limitation
was data was collected only from resident students which may
not represent the whole scenario of dietary behavior among
the university students. To conduct this type of research work,
whether in this area or in any other part of the country, good
financial support is more essential and in this case findings will be
more specified and versatile.
Conclusion
Outcome of the present study concludes that low prevalence of
overweight and obesity among the university students of southern
coastal region of Bangladesh is associated with unhealthy lifestyle
and irregular eating. Our findings suggest that the propensity of
overweight and obesity among the university students can be reduced
by providing proper knowledge at all levels (family, institution,
community and government) on the healthful diet, improved lifestyle,
and harmful effect of obesity.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have on competing interest.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful to all the team members and participants for their kind
cooperation and enthusiastic involvement throughout the work.
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Author Affiliation Top
Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University,
1
Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
Department of Pediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,
2
Shahbag-1000, Bangladesh
Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342,
3
Bangladesh
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