Analysis of the prevalence of obesity and overweight among medical students at a private university in a municipality in the state of Maranhão

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of obesity and overweight among medical students at a private university in a city in the State of Maranhão. Methods: This is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach carried out through field research. A questionnaire was administered to medical students, from the first to the eighth period, at a private university in a city in the State of Maranhão and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: In this study, 51% of the students were female. Around 40.4% were overweight, and 56.4% gained weight during graduation. With regard to food, 60.5% increased their consumption of processed foods. As for physical activity, 38.2% did not practice it at least once a week. Regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages, 28.7% did so up to twice a week, and in relation to smoking, 30.3% smoked up to twice a week. As for chronic diseases, the vast majority, 97.7%, had no previous history. However, 22.3% had already used weight loss medication, with 81% doing so without a medical prescription. Conclusion: Recognize the importance of a healthy diet, physical activity, and the need for future research to further assess the habits and weight of students on the course.