Significant increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity documented between 1994 and 2008 in Mexican college students

Abstract

We describe the changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 4606 students that applied to a Mexican University during 1994 to 2008. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age was 17.7 ± 1.2 years-old. Progressive and significant increments of bodyweight (female [F] = 2.6, P = 0.03), body mass index (BMI) (F = 4.4, P = 0.001), and waist circumference (F = 30.08, P < 0.0001) in women, and bodyweight (male [M] = 8.9, P < 0.001), BMI (M = 10.4, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (M = 13.01, P < 0.001) in men were observed. A significant increment (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of overweight since 1994 (n = 87, 12.1%) throughout 1997 (n = 102, 14.1%), 1998 (n = 133, 18.4%), 1999 (n = 1993, 26.8%), and 2008 (n = 206, 19.9%) was documented. Similarly, the prevalence of obesity had a significant increment in all students evaluated (P < 0.0001) since 1994 (n = 29, 13.2%) through 1997 (n = 11, 5.0%), 1998 (n = 45, 20.5%), 1999 (n = 53, 24.1%), and 2008 (n = 82, 37.3%). The increment was significant in both women (P = 0.02) and men (P < 0.001). In summary, we report a significant increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexican students living in an urban setting over a time period of 14 years.

Keywords:

• body mass index
• adolescents
• weight problems
• obese

Disclosures

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relevant to this study.