A Study on Weight Status and Weight Perception of College Going Girls in Agra District of U.P.

Context: Often coexisting in developing countries with under-nutrition, obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups.

Objective: 1. To find out the prevalence of obesity and faulty weight perception among college going girls of Agra. 2. To compare the actual with perceived weight status and 3. To have an eye on the desired weight status of the study subjects

Material and method:

Study design: Cross sectional study.

Setting: Urban and rural colleges of Agra

Study period: January to June 2009 Sample size: 400 college going girls of 18-24 years.

Study variable: Height, weight, weight perception, desired weight

Statistical Analysis: Percentage, Kappa statistics

Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 18.5%&4.5% respectively. The prevalence of underweight was 31.5%. The prevalence of faulty weight perception was 54.5% and was found to be inclined towards feeling of higher weight. This accounted for the relatively lower prevalence of perceived underweight (13.5%), perceived normal weight (31.8%) and higher prevalence of perceived overweight (54.7%) compared to actual weight status based on body mass index.

Conclusion: The dual burden of underweight and overweight among the college going girls, along with prevailing faulty weight perception, if not corrected in time, may lead to adoption of faulty weight control practices, development of eating disorders, and, above all, may end up in aggravating the already existing high level of under nutrition. The later can have adverse long term impact on the health and well being of the offspring born to these 'would be mothers'.