Abstract

Objective: To correlates changes in body mass index (BMI) and obesity with blood pressure, age and waist-to-hip ratio in adults as well as to identify possible risk groups with undesirable trends in obesity by assessing associations of BMI and obesity with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors.

Methods: 110 medical and paramedical students of age group of 17- 26 years were selected for this study out of which 54 were males and 56 were females. The methods used for this study were- for BMI by  calculation of body weight in kilograms (kg) by Digital scale divided by square of the body height which is measured by commercial stadiometer in meter square (m²), Waist Hip ratio by measuring Waist circumference and Hip circumference with the help of measuring tape and Blood pressure using mercury sphygmomanometer.

Results: Significant correlation for male students (r 0.814) and for female students (r 0.559) was found between SBP and BMI. Also significant correlation for male students (r 0.622) and for female students (r 0.390) was found between DBP and BMI. No significant correlation for age and W/H ratio was found with BMI for male and female students. Statistical significant difference found among male subject mean SBP was maximum among obese 2 group (126.4 ±5.64) as compare to normal & underweight subjects with SBP 118.5±3.72 & 110 ±4.0 respectively and mean DBP was maximum among obese 1 group (83.42 ±2.22) as compare to underweight  whose DBP was minimum (76 ±0.0). Statistical significant difference found among female subject mean SBP was maximum among obese 2 group (116 ±3.46) as compare to normal& underweight subjects with SBP 112.63± 4.20& 111 ±1.41 respectively and mean DBP was maximum among obese 2 group (76.0 ±3.46) as compare to underweight  whose DBP was minimum (70 ±0.0).

Conclusion: The findings of the present study done among young adult medical students reveals, substantial proportions of young adult medical students are overweight and obese, the rate being higher for female participants. Participants who were overweight or obese had high blood pressure levels and there was significant relationship between the BMI category and BP levels and with increased BMI there was risk of high blood pressure. The obesity index which correlates very well with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure is BMI. As the BMI increases there is progressive increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both male and female subjects. Thus, our results highlight the necessity to institute effective prevention and health promotion programs targeting younger age groups.

Keywords: BMI, SBP, DBP, WHpR.

Niraj Srivastava

Department of Physiology, Dr B S A Medical College & Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India

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