Determinants of Overweight and Obesity Among University Students: A Logistic Regression Analysis of Knowledge, Lifestyle, and Psychological Factors

Abstract

Recent data from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (2023) reported that 54.4% of Malaysian adults are classified as overweight or obese, representing a 4.3% increase since 2019. The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity poses a significant public health concern, as these conditions are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite this growing trend, empirical research examining the determinants of body mass index (BMI) among university students in Malaysia remains limited. This study aimed to examine the influence of knowledge, lifestyle, and psychological factors on BMI levels among university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 316 students from two faculties at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kota Bharu using a structured questionnaire to assess these variables. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the respondents was 23.4% and 11.4%, respectively. The findings indicated that knowledge and lifestyle factors were significantly associated with BMI status among university students. These results emphasize the importance of targeted health education and behavioral interventions to foster healthier lifestyles and mitigate the risk of overweight and obesity within the university population.