The prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among University of Botswana students

Figures & data

Table 1. The International classification of adult underweight, overweight and obese.

Classification	BMI (kg/m^2)
	Principal cut off point
Underweight	<18.50
Severe thinness	<16.00
Moderate thinness	16.00–16.99
Mild thinness	17.00–18.49
Normal range	18.50–24.99
Overweight	≥25.00
Pre-obese	25.00–29.00
Obese	≥30.00
Obese class 1	30.00–34.99
Obese class 11	35.00–39.99
Obese class 111	≥40.00

Source: Adapted from WHO (2004).

Table 2. Demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Variables	Frequency (N = 202)	Percentage (%)
Sex
Males	85	42.1
Females	117	57.9
Total	202	100
Age (years)
Below 22	141	69.8
23–26	57	28.2
26 and above	4	1.98
Total	202	100
Weight
Underweight	19	9.5
Normal	109	53.7
Overweight	50	24.9
Obese	24	11.9
Total	202	100
Marital status
Single	201	99.5
Married	1	0.5
Total	202	100
Level of study
1st year	45	22.3
2nd year	72	35.6
3rd year	42	20.8
4th year	40	19.8
5th year	3	3
Total	202	100
Faculty of study
Science	37	18.3
Social science	33	16.3
Health science	19	9.4
Medicine	9	4.5
Humanities	25	12.4
Education	29	14.4
Business	22	10.9
Engineering	28	13.9
Total	202	100

Figure 1. Food constituents consumed by participants.

Figure 2. Frequency of beverages consumed.

Table 3. Relationship between BMI and predictor variables (Year of study, Faculty and alcohol use)

Variable	Not obese (BMI < 25 kg/m^2) N = 127 (63.2%)		Overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m^2) N = 74 (36.8%)		p-value	OR	95% CI
	No.	%	No.	%
Age (Years)
18–21	73	57	29	40	0.001	1.72	1.06–4.46
22–25	55	43	40	55
26–30	0	0	4	5
Year of study
1st	38	30	7	9.5	0.001	1.60	1.09–3.99
2nd	46	36.2	25	33.8
3rd	22	17.3	20	27
4th	21	16.5	19	25.6
5th	0	0	3	4.1
Faculty
Science	23	62.2	14	37.8	0.870	0.99	0.65–2.78
Social science	15	45.5	18	54.5
Health science	17	89.8	2	10.5
Medicine	8	88.9	1	11.1
Humanities	16	64	9	36
Education	21	75	7	25
Business	13	59.1	9	40.9
Engineering and Technology	14	50	14	50
Frequency of alcohol consumption
Every day	0	0	1	100	0.207	1.20	0.98–4.43
3–5 times a week	0	0	1	100
Once a week	3	50	3	50
Every weekend	17	51.5	16	48.5
Sometimes	18	62.1	11	37.9
Frequency of physical activity
Once a day	24	61.5	15	38.5	0.185	1.00	0.70–2.45
Twice a day	1	100	0	0
Sometimes	41	74.5	14	25.5

Notes: OR = Odds Ratio; CI = Confidence Interval.

Table 4. Relationship between BMI and predictor variables (Gender, physical activity, sleeping during the day, and family history of obesity, self-perception and alcohol use)

Variable	Not obese (BMI < 25 kg/m^2) N = 127		Overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m^2) N = 74		p-value	OR	95% CI
	No.	%	No.	%
Gender
Female	77	65.8	40	34.2	0.550	1.22	0.85–2.11
Males	50	59.5	34	40.5
Physical activity
Yes	66	70.9	27	29.1	0.019	0.40	0.39–0.78
No	61	51.7	57	48.3
Sleeping during the day
Yes	65	64.4	36	35.6	0.09	0.97	0.71–2.20
No	62	47.7	38	52.3
Family history of obesity
Yes	38	59.3	26	40.6	0.445	1.50	0.50–3.32
No	89	65	48	35.0
Do you think you are obese
Yes	4	17.4	19	82.6	0.001	3.4	1.01–3.60
No	123	1.8	55	98.2
Alcohol use
Yes	42	56.8	32	43.2	0.149	1.46	0.97–2.76
No	85	66.9	42	33.1

Notes: OR = Odds ratio; CI = Confidence interval.

WHO Expert Consultation. (2004). Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. The Lancet, 157–163.

 PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar