Prevalence of obesity and comparison of the cardiovascular fitness in female undergraduate students, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University

Abstract

     The purposes of this research project were to study prevalence of obesity and to compare the cardiovascular fitness in female undergraduate students, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University during academic year of 2008. The students were 20-29 years of age. The study was divided in 2 phases: phase I was the prevalence study of obesity and phase II was the comparison study of the cardiovascular fitness using maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) between the normal body weight group and overweight and obesity group. The results revealed that there were 39.3% normal body weight, 31.4% overweight and obesity and 29.2% underweight. Fifty-eight and Forty-two percents had taken low and high calorie snack respectively. Thirty-one percents sometimes exercised and sixty-nine percents did not exercise. When compared the cardiovascular fitness between the normal body weight group and overweight and obesity group, it was found that the overweight and obesity group was statistical significant lower in VO2max than the normal body weight group (p=0.001). However, both groups had a very low cardiovascular fitness level. Therefore, female undergraduate students, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University should be encouraged to realize the necessity of the exercise in order to prevent the risks of the cardiovascular diseases in the future.