BİRCAN ULAŞ KADIOĞLU, PİNAR SOYLAR
Experimental and Applied Medical Science - 2025;6(1):99-111
Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate anthropometric risk parameters and meal habits regarding nutrition-related chronic diseases in university students according to gender. Methods: This study was conducted on a total of 898 university students. A questionnaire was used to determine the demographic characteristics and meal habits of university students. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) was measured and, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.9 ± 1.96. 76.5% were female, 82.5% skipped meals. Mean values of all anthropometric parameters respectively body weight, height, BMI, WC, HC, WHR and WHtR; 61.0±11.7 kg, 166.7±8.4 cm, 21.8±3.0 kg/m2 ,75.3±9.3 cm, 96.3±7.8 cm, 0.78±0.07 and 0.45±0.05. Mean values of all parameters were found to be significantly different according to gender (p <0.05). According to BMI group 11.7% of females and 26.5% of males were overweight or obese. The prevalence of the participants at risk (above the cut-points) was 4.7% in men and 3.2% in women for abdominal obesity (WC). 14.8% of the females and 32.7% of the males have the "risk" WHR. Central obesity was found in 13.1% of the subjects according to WHtR cut-off degree. Conclusion: There was statistically significant relationship between the meal skipping status and the mean WC (cm) of the participants. It was observed that waist circumference was higher in male students and those who frequently skipped meals.
