Factors Contributing to Overweight and Obesity among College Students of Benguet State University

Abstract

This study is designed to determine the factors contributing to overweight and obesity among college students at Benguet State University when grouped according to age, sex, living status, ethnic affiliation and BMI. It also looked into the reasons of overweight and obesity. This study was conducted at Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. In substantiating the study, a descriptive cross-sectional research method was employed in the data gathering. Structured questionnaires that went through series of pretest was personally explained and was conducted to the respondent after which the administration of questionnaire was followed through a quantitative guided questions. Face-to-face interview was facilitated after gathering the result of the quantitative guided questions. The findings revealed that the college students of Benguet State University have normal BMI, regardless of age, sex, living status, and ethnic affiliation. However, female respondents have greater number of overweight and obese of which, it was found in this research that male were engaged more in certain physical activities than females. The findings also revealed that the greatest contributing factor to overweight and obesity is diet. The respondents agreed that includes food offers in the nearby canteens such as fried as it lowers the metabolism of a person as it increases the reabsorption of the food that was eaten. The result of this study suggest the following recommendations: Information dissemination on the importance of maintaining normal BMI through IEC materials; also, the researchers of the study would like to suggest to the University Health Services to visit for evaluation of university’s canteens food offers; and information dissemination on importance of home prepared foods to eliminate dry or deep fried consumption in nearby canteens offers.; A wider space in the campus may consider for exercise such as zumba, tai chi, and taebo.