Dietary habits and life style among the students of a private medical university Karachi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the dietary habits and life style of the students of a private medical university in Karachi. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical University, from August 2005 to September 2005. A total of 384 medical students from the batches of 2002 to 2005 participated in this study. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was self administered to the students after taking their consent. The data included sociodemographic characteristics, life style, exercise, dietary habits and family history of diabetes mellitus. The collected data was analyzed by statistical program SPSS version 11. RESULTS: Out of the total participants, 53.4% were male and 46.6% were female students. The mean age was 20 +/- 1.58 years. The average income of the household of students was 50,000 Pakistani rupees per month. Only 7% students were tobacco users. About 33% students had a history of diabetes mellitus among their parents. Nearly ninety-seven percent reported consumption of junk food while 60% reported use of whole grain food in their diet. Seventy percent students walked 30 minutes and 47% exercised daily. According to the body mass index, 58.3% students were of normal weight and 41.7% were overweight. No significant difference was found among male and female students when dietary habits and life style were compared by sex. Junk food and soft-drink consumption was associated with being overweight. Eating whole grain food and doing exercise showed a protective association against overweight. CONCLUSION: Unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits were highly prevalent in the overweight study population. Type-2 diabetes mellitus was common among parents and grandparents of the students making them prone to this disorder. Our study concluded that dietary and exercise counselling is necessary as a preventive strategy.

Dietary habits and life style among the students of a private medical university Karachi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the dietary habits and life style of the students of a private medical university in Karachi. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical University, from August 2005 to September 2005. A total of 384 medical students from the batches of 2002 to 2005 participated in this study. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was self administered to the students after taking their consent. The data included socio-demographic characteristics, life style, exercise, dietary habits and family history of diabetes mellitus. The collected data was analyzed by statistical program SPSS version 11. RESULTS: Out of the total participants, 53.4% were male and 46.6% were female students. The mean age was 20 +/- 1.58 years. The average income of the household of students was 50,000 Pakistani rupees per month. Only 7% students were tobacco users. About 33% students had a history of diabetes mellitus among their parents. Nearly 97% reported consumption of junk food while 60% reported use of whole grain food in their diet. Seventy percent students walked 30 minutes and 47% exercised daily. According to the body mass index, 58.3% students were of normal weight and 41.7% were overweight. No significant difference was found among male and female students when dietary habits and life style were compared by sex. Junk food and soft-drink consumption was associated with being overweight. Eating whole grain food and doing exercise showed a protective association against overweight. CONCLUSION: Unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits were highly prevalent in the overweight study population. Type-2 diabetes mellitus was common among parents and grandparents of the students making them prone to this disorder. Our study concluded that dietary and exercise counselling is necessary as a preventive strategy.

A community based study about knowledge and practices regarding tobacco consumption and passive smoking in Gadap Town, Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of people consuming tobacco in various forms, level of knowledge and practices regarding various harmful effects of tobacco and passive smoking. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ghulam Mohammad Jokhio Goth, a small semi urban community of Gadap Town Karachi, which comprises of a population approximate 2225. About 157 people were interviewed regarding their tobacco consumption practices through a semi structured pre-tested questionnaire from June to August 2005. There were 314 households in the community and every alternate household was selected with a random start. The study subject was selected among all the adult members of 18 years age and above present at the time of interview in the household by lottery method and the questionnaire was administerd to those who were resident of GM Goth after taking consent. RESULTS: In our study 110 (70%) people were tobacco consumers, 47% were knowledgeable about hazards of smoking, 22% were aware about passive smoking, and 90% started consuming tobacco below 20 years of age. The most popular form of tobacco was pan 40%, cigarette 39% and hookah 19%. Eighty four percent were regular smokers. Only 13.6% took counseling, 26.3% tried to quit smoking but none of them succeeded. About 23.5% smokers suffered from cough and headache due to smoking. When age, sex, marital status, income of the household, education and knowledge about hazards of smoking was compared, age and knowledge showed significant association while other variables did not show any significant association. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that high proportion of people including men and women consume tobacco. Most of them were unaware about tobacco consumption hazards, and passive smoking.