Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity have become major global public health concerns, with their prevalence increasing rapidly among adults and young populations worldwide. Unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, and behavioral factors are considered significant contributors to excessive weight gain, particularly among university students.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted and 194 samples collected from post students. Non-Random Purposive Sampling Technique was used to select the study population. All Male and female students were included who give consent to take part in study and was willing to provide their weight and height measurements. A self-administered questionnaire, along with anthropometric measurements, was used for data collection.
Result: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 37.7%, while 53.1% had normal BMI. The mean age of the participant was 29.86 ± SD 4.99 with a range of 23 to 43 years. Most of the married participants were overweight, that was 22.5%. By comparing gender male were more obese 19% as compared to female participants 18%. Significant associations were found between overweight and dietary habits such as fast-food intake, breakfast skipping, meal frequency, home-cooked food consumption, and energy drink intake.
Conclusion: The study concluded that unhealthy dietary habits were significantly associated with being overweight among postgraduate students. Frequent fast-food consumption, skipping breakfast, and unhealthy eating patterns increased the risk of being overweight and obesity. Promoting healthy dietary practices and nutrition awareness programs may help reduce overweight among students