Endocrine Abstracts

Actuality: According to the World Health Organization, the escalating international epidemic of obesity is now the most significant contributor to ill health. More than 30% of US adults are obese, i.e. body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m^2, and it is feared that one in three children born in the early 21st century will develop diabetes with a consequent reduction in lifetime expectancy. In Uzbekistan 20.2% of population is obese.

Aims of study: Examine prevalence of overweight and obesity rate and fitness levels among students of Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute.

Materials and methods: We examined 104 medical students (24 males and 80 females) with mean age 23±1.6 and 22±1.9 years old respectively: checked their BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, and also performed fitness test with checking heart rate before and after 20 squats. Heart rate increase percentage of less than 20 referred for excellent, 21–40 – good, 41–65 satisfactory, 66–75 poor, 76 and above – very poor fitness levels.

Results: Fourteen percent of students were underweight (BMI less than 18 kg/m²), 66% of students had normal weight (BMI 18–25 kg/m²), 17% overweight (25–29.9 kg/m²), 3% obese (over 30 kg/m²⁾. 61% of students showed good, 32% had satisfactory, 3.5% poor and 3.5% very poor levels of physical activity. 20% of overweight students were in very poor physical condition, while 25% of underweight students showed satisfactory fitness level.

Conclusion: Obesity rate among students is 3%, but overall rate together with overweight is 20%. Among overweight students 20% were in very poor physical condition.