Future doctors at risk: High burden of overweight and obesity among medical students in North India- A cross-sectional study

Background Overweight and obesity are emerging public health concerns among young adults and are associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Medical students are particularly vulnerable because of academic stress, sedentary behavior, irregular routines, and unhealthy dietary practices. This study assessed the prevalence of overweight/obesity and associated factors among undergraduate medical students. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 undergraduate medical students aged ≥18 years at a private medical university in Gurugram, Haryana. Participants were recruited using a universal sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPS approach. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using calibrated instruments and standard techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 30. Associations were assessed using Chi-square test and logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among 450 participants, 61 (13.6%) were overweight, 132 (29.3%) had obesity class I, and 150 (33.3%) had obesity class II. Thus, 76.2% of students were overweight or obese. A high waist-to-hip ratio was present in 57.1% participants and showed significant association with overweight/obesity (p<0.001). Male sex showed higher odds of overweight/obesity, although not all associations reached statistical significance. Conclusion A high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central adiposity was observed among medical students. These findings highlight the need for institution-based health promotion strategies and early screening to reduce future cardiometabolic risk.