Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: January-March | Volume: 5 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 49-54
“Visceral Fat for Miserable Life”!! - Determinants of Increased Waist Circumference among College Age Population
V. Bhavani1, N. Prabhavathy Devi2
1Dietician, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, KK Nagar, Chennai, India
2Assistant Professor, Queen Marys College, Chennai, India
Corresponding Author: V. Bhavani
ABSTRACT
Background: India was always focused for “undernutrition” and poverty with poor health status. Recently, India is undergoing a greater transition phase in nutrition. Obesity can be noted as the initial wave of a defined group of non-communicable diseases called “New World Syndrome,” generating a huge socioeconomic and public health burden in low and middle income countries
Aim: To study the factors contributing to the increased waist circumference among the study population
Materials and Methods: About 1000 samples were selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique. Waist circumference and hip circumference were measured for the subjects using appropriate methods. Interview schedule was used to collect the details. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect the food consumption pattern. The obtained details were coded and subjected to statistical analysis. The required data were correlated.
Results and Discussion: Our study clearly showed the lower intake of wheat, ragi, oats, and barley. The lower intake of above mentioned cereals has an effect of increased waist circumference among the study group with the correlation value of -0.231, -0.103,-0.189 and -0. 137 and it is also statistically significant (p<0.001). Chocolates, sweets and carbonated beverages are positively associated with increased waist circumference (p<0.001). Physical inactivity and eating energy dense food during watching television become reasons for increased BMI and waist circumference in our study. a strong significant positive correlation was observed between the BMI and waist circumference (0.679, P<0.001), Hip Circumference (0.795, P<0.001) and waist to hip ration (0.168, P<0.001).
Conclusion In order to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, waist circumference must be normal. Thus it is essential to consume fiber and antioxidant rich foods and avoid consuming sugar loaded foods and other empty calorie foods.
Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, BMI, Waist Circumference, Antioxidant, Diabetes, Television watching