Exploring overweight and obesity among Pakistani university students: a nationwide prevalence and knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) assessment – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Obesity, as a global epidemic disease, is widely distributed across all age groups and genders. Overweight and obesity are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, with around 50% of the population being overweight or obese. Pakistan ranks tenth out of 188 countries worldwide in the prevalence of obesity. This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding overweight and obesity among Pakistani undergraduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2025 among Pakistani undergraduate students. A validated questionnaire was disseminated online and in person, and the responses were recorded anonymously. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, with a P-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 1086 participants, 164 (15.10%) were overweight, 42 (3.87%) were obese, and 10 (0.92%) were severely obese. Around 72% of the participants knew about obesity, with nearly half reporting an obese person in the family (n = 510, 47.89%), and having an obese person in the family was significantly associated with obesity among the participants (n = 130, 61.61%; P < 0.001). Males (n = 116, 54.21%) were more likely to be overweight or obese than females (n = 98, 45.79%; P < 0.001). Adults aged 26–30 years had a 4.73-fold higher risk of obesity (95% CI, 1.83–7.99; P = 0.001) compared with younger adults. Conclusion: This study highlighted an alarming trend of overweight and obesity among Pakistani undergraduate students, with associations observed between obesity and factors such as family history, age, gender, and unhealthy lifestyle practices.