A study on obesity among young

adults attending OPD of NRS

Medical College
 Name of team members
Roll No. Name Roll No . Name

48 - Ankit Bhagat 56 - Shreya Bhadra

49- Anamika Singh 57 - Shreya Dastidar

50 - Ajijun Nahar Begum 58 - Shreyosi Datta

51 - Abhinay Pundir 59 - Subhadeep Mondal

52 - Ishan Dasgupta 60 - Shubhradeep Sharma

53 - Shivam Dutta 61 - Sirpa Mandi

54 - Shourjomoy Ghosh 62 -Sk. Mahabub Islam

55 - Shreejita Dutta 63 - Sk. Saikat Haque

What is obesity ?

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat

accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population
measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in
kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres). A
person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A
person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight

The body mass index (BMI) categories for Asian Indians, however, has
been revised based on consensus guidelines. The revised guidelines
categorise overweight as a BMI of 23.0 – 24.9 and obesity as a
BMI≥25.[1]
Complications Of Obesity
Obesity and overweight are major risk factors for a number of chronic
diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

People who have obesity, compared to those with a normal or healthy

weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health
conditions, including the following:

● All-causes of death (mortality)

● High blood pressure (Hypertension)
● High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of
triglycerides
● Type 2 diabetes
● Coronary heart disease
● Stroke
● Gallbladder disease
● Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and
bone within a joint)
● Sleep apnea and breathing problems
● Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon,
kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
● Low quality of life
● Mental illness such as clinical depression,
anxiety, and other mental disorders
● Body pain and difficulty with physical
functioning[2]
 Prevalence Of Obesity

In one study, the results showed that the pooled data after 2010 estimated a
combined prevalence of 19.3 percent of childhood overweight and obesity
which was a significant increase from the earlier prevalence of 16.3 per cent
reported in 2001-2005.[3]

As seen in a recent study, young adults (18–25 year olds) are prone to
overweight and obesity during the transition from adolescence to adult in
developing countries as much as in developed countries. Levels of
overweight and obesity together with other cardiovascular risk factors
increase with age even within this age span (18–25 years old).[4]
 Objective

● To study the socio-demographic characteristics

of the study population.
● To find out the magnitude of obesity among the
study population.
● To find out any relationship between obesity
and socio-demographic variables of this study
population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
• TYPE OF STUDY : Descriptive Observational Study

• STUDY DESIGN : Cross-Sectional

• TIME PERIOD : 9.1.18 to 6.2.18

• PLACE OF STUDY :GOPD AND MOPD of NRS Medical College, Kolkata

• SAMPLING TECHNIQUE : Purposive

• SAMPLE SIZE : This was a study conducted at the GOPD and MOPD of
NRS hospital during 14, 15, 16 jaunuary 2018. 150 people were
approached among whom 14 refused to participate and total of 136 people
participated and informed consent was taken from them
Tools And Techniques

• PRE-DESIGNED,PRE-TESTED, SEMI-STRUCTURED SCHEDULE

• MEASURING TAPE

• WEIGHING MACHINE
 MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT

1. THE MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT WAS DONE USING A

MEASURING TAPE.
2. We asked the subject to remove his shoes and socks.
3. The person stood with back of head ,shoulder
blades,buttocks,calves and heels touching the vertical wall.
4. Position of the head was so that the person was looking straight
ahead.
5. The measuring tape was used to measure the final height.
 MEASUREMENT OF WAIST-HIP RATIO

1. MEASUREMENT OF WAIST: the measuring tape was placed at the level of umbilicus.
2. MEASUREMENT OF HIP: the measuring tape was placed over the anterior superior iliac
spines of both sides.
3. the waist measurement was divided by hip measurement to obtain the desired waist- hip
ratio.
 MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHT

1. The scale was adjusted to zero when no weight was on.

2. The person was asked to stand on the weighing machine
erect and the reading was recorded immediately.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Inclusion criterion - Exclusion criterion -

19 - 25 years old adult Patients refusing to

patients coming to MOPD participate and seriously ill
and GOPD of NRS Medical patients
College and Hospital .
STUDY VARIABLES
(SPECIFIC STUDY VARIABLES )

• BODY MASS INDEX : The body mass index is a value derived

from the mass and height of an individual. The BMI is defined
as the body mass divided by the square of the body height.
The modified Indian consensus of the WHO guidelines was
consulted.

• WAIST HIP RATIO : It is an indicator of truncal obesity. A WHO

ratio more than 0.95 for men & more than 0.85 in women
indicates health risk.[5]
 SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

AGE : This study was done on young adults in the age range of 19- 25 years .

RESIDENCE - Urban if area of residence is under Corporation or

Municipality/rural if it is a Panchayat area.

SEX : Male or Female

ADDICTION HISTORY :Addiction to tobacco or alcohol or both considered

during last one month.
 SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

PER CAPITA INCOME : Total family income divided by number of family

members . Modified B. G. Prasad classification of per capita income (2017)
was followed.

Socioeconomic class Per capita monthly income in 2017

Upper class >6254

Upper middle class 3127-6253

Middle class 1876-3126

Lower middle class 938-1875

Lower class <938

 SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY : Classified into people with physical activity(

jogging , cycling , running , sports like cricket , football etc) nil ,
once a week, thrice a week, and daily.

WATCHING TELEVISION/ USING MOBILE : Classified into short

(<1hr), moderate (1-3hr), long (3-5hr) and prolonged (>5hr). [6]

FOOD HABITS : Study of consumption of chocolates,fast food and

oily foods during the last one month .
Procedure
Results
● To study the socio-
demographic characteristics
of the study population.
 Table No . 1 : Distribution of study population
according to gender
n=136

Gender n percentage

Male 69 50.73%

Female 67 49.27%

Total 136 100%

On our sample population of 136 patients, 50.73% were male whereas 49.27% were females.
Table No. 2 : Distribution of study population
according to residence
n=136

Residence n percentage

Rural 60 44.12%

Urban 76 55.88%

Total 136 100%

Of our study population of 136 patients, 55.88% had urban residence whereas 44.12% had rural
residence.
Table No. 3 : Distribution of study population
according to per capita income Based on Modified B.G. Prasad
(2017) criteria . N=136

Per Capita income No. %age

upper class ( >6253 ) 34 25

upper middle class (3127-6253 ) 68 50

middle class (1876-3126 ) 18 13.23

lower middle class (938 - 1875) 14 10.29

lower class (<938 ) 2 1.47

Total 136 100%

Of the total study population of 136 patients, almost 50% belong to the upper middle class
income group.
 Table No. 4: Distribution of study population
according to addiction history(during last
month )
n=136
Addiction History
(last month) n percentage

only alcohol 16 11.76

only smoking 24 17.64

both of them 62 45.58

none of them 34 25

Total 136 100%

Inference:Almost half of the study population both smoke and drink, and a quarter of the
population indulges in neither.
 Table no 5 : Distribution of study population
according to physical activity(during last
week) n= 136
Physical activity n percentage

nil 36 26.47

Once a week 28 21.32

Thrice a week 41 30.14

daily 31 22.05

Total 136 100

Inference:52.17% of the study population engages in physical activity at least thrice a week.
Table No. 6 :Distribution of study population
according to watching television n = 136

Hours spent watching television in a n Percentage

day

Short(<1 hour) 17 13.2

Moderate ( 1to 3 hours) 32 23.5

Long ( 3 to 5 hours) 49 35.2

Prolonged (> 5 hours) 38 27.9

Total 136 100

About 62% of the population engages in watching tv more than 3 hours in a day .
 Table No. 7 : Distribution of study population
according to junk food intake
n=136

Frequency of intake of junk food n percentage

never 37 27.21

less than thrice weekly 43 31.61

more than thrice weekly 56 41.17

Total 136 100

Around 40% of the study population has junk food more than thrice a week.
● To find out the magnitude of
obesity among the study
population.
 Table No. 8 :Distribution of study population
according to Body Mass Index
BMI Category No. Of Percentag
people e
(N=136)

<18.5 Underweight 0 0%

18.5-22.9 Normal 59 43.38%

23-24.9 Overweight 32 23.52%

>25 Obese 45 33.08%

Total 136 100%

Of the study population, 56.5% of the people were either overweight or obese.
Table No. 9 :Distribution of study population
according to Waist-Hip Ratio

WAIST HIP RATIO NUMBER PERCENTAGE

MALE <0.95 46 66.66%

n=69 >0.95 23 33.33%

Total (male) 69

FEMALE <0.85 18 26.86%

n=67 >0.85 49 73.13%

Total (female) 67

Of the study population, 30% of male patients and more than 70% of female patients have a
higher than normal waist-hip ratio.
● To find out any relationship
between obesity and socio-
demographic variables of
this study population.
 Table No. 10 showing distribution of BMI of
study population in relation to residence

Category Urban Rural

(n=76) (n=60)

Underweight 0 0% 0 0%
Normal 29 38.15% 30 50%
Overweight 18 23.68% 14 23.33%
Obese 29 38.15% 16 26.66%
Total 76 100% 60 100%

Of the subjects studied 61.83% people staying in the urban area were found to be
either overweight or obese and 49.99% in that of a rural area.
Table no.11 showing distribution of BMI of
study population in relation to gender
Category Male Female
(n=69) (n=67)

Underweight 0 0% 0 0%

Normal 37 55.22% 22 32.83%

Overweight 11 16.41% 21 31.34%

Obese 21 31.34% 24 35.82%

Total 69 100% 67 100%

Of the total number of males 47.75% were found to be either

overweight or obese and 67.16% females were found to be
either obese or overweight
 Table No. 12 : Relationship between BMI and
addiction history of study population

Category Only Alcohol Only Smoking Both of these None of these

Normal 4 9 28 18

Percentage 25% 37.5% 45.16% 52.94%

Obese 12 15 34 16

Percentage 75% 62.5% 54.8% 47.05%

Total 16 24 62 34
Table No. 13 : Relationship between BMI and
junk food intake frequency

Category Never Less than thrice More than thrice

weekly weekly

Normal 24 18 17

Percentage 64.86% 41.86% 30.35%

Obese 13 25 39

Percentage 35.13% 58.13% 69.64%

Total 37 43 56

35% of people with no junk food intake , 58% of people with junk food intake less than
thrice weekly , and about 70% of people with intake of junk food more than thrice
weekly were found to be obese .
 Table No . 14 : Relationship between BMI and
Physical activity
CATEGORY NIL ONCE A WEEK THRICE A WEEK DAILY

NORMAL 6 13 17 23

Percentage 16.66% 44.82% 41.46% 76.66%

OBESE 30 16 24 7

Percentage 83.33% 55.17% 58.53% 23.33%

TOTAL 36 29 41 30

83% of people with no physical activity , 55% with activity once a week , 58% with activity
thrice a week and 23% of people with daily physical activity were found to be obese .
 Table No . 15 : Relationship between BMI and
per capita income
CATEGORY Upper Class Upper Middle Class Lower Lower Class
Middle Class Middle Class

NORMAL 16 24 10 8 1

Percentage 47.05% 35.29% 55.55% 57.14% 50%

OBESE 18 44 8 6 1

Percentage 52.94% 64.70% 44.44% 42.8% 50%

TOTAL 34 68 18 14 2

52.94% of upper class , 65.70% of upper middle class , 44.44% of middle class , 42.8% of lower
middle class , 50% of lower class population were found to have obesity .
 Table No. 16 : Relationship between BMI and
watching Television

Category Short Moderate Long (3-5hr) Prolonged(>5hr Total

(<1hr) (1-3hr) )

Normal 7 16 21 15 59

Percentage 41.17% 50% 42.86% 39.47% 43.38%

Obese 10 16 28 23 77

Percentage 58.82% 50% 57.14% 60.52% 56.62%

Total 17 32 49 38 136

Majority of the people who watch television for long or prolonged periods of time were found to be overweight or
obese.
Summary

• This hospital based study demonstrated prevalence of obesity and overweight among
the General OPD patients of NRS Medical College.

• In the sample population of 136 patients,50.73% were males and 49.27% were
females.
• In the sample population of 136 patients,55.88% stayed in urban area and
44.12% stayed in rural area.
• Almost half the patients belonged to upper middle class family indicating
sedentary lifestyles.
• 45.58% of the patients indulge in both drinking and smoking,17.64% indulge in
only smoking and 11.76% indulge in only drinking.
• 52.17% of the study population engages in physical activity at least thrice a
week.
63.23% of the population watches TV for at least 3-5 hrs daily.

40% of the population eats junk food more than 3 times a week.

Of the study population,30% of male patients and 70% of female patients have more than
normal waist-hip ratio.

Combining all the factors it is seen that 47.75% of the male population and 67.16% of the
female population are either overweight( BMI=23-24.9) or obese( BMI>25)
More people residing in rural areas are found to be obese.

In the overweight and obese category,maximum people were found to consume both alcohol
and indulge in smoking.Therefore,alcohol and smoking are risk factors for obesity.

Maximum people in the overweight & obese category were found to have junk food more than
thrice weekly.Therefore,consuming junk food is a risk factor for obesity.

Maximum people in the overweight & obese category were found to indulge in no physical
activity or at most once a week.Therefore,Physical activity is a must to prevent obesity.

Maximum people in the overweight & obese category were found to belong to the upper class
and upper middle class population group.
 Limitations
1. No definite sample techniques were followed and purposive sampling
was done.

2. Short period of study.

3. Other factors of obesity like medication history could have been

included for better assessment.
 RECOMMENDATION

● The study subjects were given health education regarding modifiable risk factors
like diet and adequate exercise.

● Obesity might lead to hypertension which be kept under control by following the
balanced diet which is an eating plan designed to lower the blood pressure.

● Daily Intake of Dietary fat should be limited to approximately 15-30 per cent of total.

● Saturated fats, like butter, ghee and margarine, should be restricted.

● Excess consumption of refined carbohydrate should be avoided.

▶ Sources rich in energy such as fats and alcohol should be restricted.

▶ Salt intake should be reduced to an of not more than 5 g/day.

▶ Protein should account for approximately 10-15 percent of the daily intake.

▶ Adequate of physical exercise of at least 30 minutes per day for at least 5 days in a week.

▶ Reduction of obesity and its risk factors takes perseverance and daily effort.

▶ We can also recommend “Fitt framework” for prescribing aerobic

exercises to people who are overweight and obese.
FITT FRAMEWORK

FREQUENCY
≥5 times a week of aerobic exercise to maximize caloric expenditure.

INTENSITY
•Moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise to be encouraged
•Some individuals prefer doing vigorous exercise as it is less time consuming but vigorous
exercise is not appropriate for the very obese BMI>35 Kg/m2
•People interested to include vigorous activity must do this gradually and after an initial period
of 4-12 weeks of moderate activity.
 TIME
•To prevent obesity people need 45-60 mins of moderate intensity activity every day unless
they reduce energy intake.
•Overweight or obese people are to be prescribed 45-60 mins of moderate intensity activity or
even lesser amount of vigorous activity.
•People who had been obese and have lost weight must be advised to do 60-90 mins of exercise
daily to avoid regaining of weight.
•Sedentary individuals should build up to their physical activity targets over several weeks,
starting with 10-20 mins of physical activity every other day to prevent potential muscle
soreness and fatigue.

TYPE
Walking is an excellent form of physical activity for the overweight and the obese.
Weight-bearing physical activity may be difficult for some individuals with B.M.I
>35,particularly those with joint problems.
For these individuals gradual increasing non-weight bearing physical activity should be
encouraged like cycling, swimming,water aerobics.etc.
● As fast foods consuming is a risk factors of overweight and obesity,so
we recommended them to reduce fast food intake.
● Watching television for prolonged time period is associated with rising
prevalence of obesity,so we recommended the patients to decrease
watching television.
● Since diabetes,osteoarthritis,cardiovascular diseases are complications
of obesity,we recommended the suffering patients to go through
proper clinical tests like lipid profile,insulin resistance,etc.​
 Conclusion

This project is a small effort by our team members to study about the status of obesity in our
country and its various risk factors

Obesity is a choice. It takes work and effort to stay in shape, but it can be fun. To help cut
obesity rates, people need to understand the effects of eating at the fast food restaurants,
eating all the calorie packed foods and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.A healthy diet and
exercising two to three times a week is key to not becoming obese.There are many problems in
India today, but we can remove one from the list by helping to cut obesity rates in modern
India.."
 References
[1]Aziz N, et al.Implications of the Revised Consensus Body Mass Indices for Asian Indians on
Clinical Obstetric Practice
Published online 2014 May 15. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/8062.4212

[2]Park K. Textbook of preventive and social medicine. 21st ed. Jabalpur: 2011. Chapter 6,
obesity; p. 397-40

[3]Pradeepa R, et al.Prevalence of generalized & abdominal obesity in urban & rural India--the ICMR-
INDIAB Study (Phase-I) [ICMR- NDIAB-3].
doi: 10.4103/0971-5916.164234

[4] Amudha p and Lorna Obesity among young adults in developing countries:a systematic overview;.
December 2012.
Published online 2016 Feb 16. doi: 10.1007/s13679-016-0187-x

[5]"Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio, Report of a WHO Expert Consultation". World
Health Organization. 8–11 December 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2012.

[6]Watching Television,The Worldwide Association:Cross Sectional Study

Irene Braithwaite, Alistair W. Stewart, [...], and the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group.Retrieved
Acknowledgement

We are highly grateful to our teachers , Dr. Amitava

Chatterjee who supported this project by providing his
expertise . We are also thankful to our classmates who helped
us complete the project . In the end we would like to thank our
parents for providing us with the resources with the help of
which we completed this project .