Factors associated with overweight among college students at Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

Overweight is a health problem that serves as the starting point for many dangerous complications, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. This study used a cross-sectional survey design to investigate overweight conditions and the factors associated with overweight among college students Rambhaibarni Rajabhat University Chanthaburi Province. The sample group consisted of 377 undergraduate students in the regular semester of the academic year 2024 at Rambhaibarni Rajabhat University Chanthaburi Province. The sample was selected using stratified random sampling. Using a questionnaire covering general information, predisposing factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors. Data was collected between June and July 2024. Statistics used for data analysis are descriptive statistics and chi-square. The results showed that factors that the sample group consisted of 377 people; 33.4% were male and 66.69% were female, of whom 80.3 % were over 18 years old.  65.5% had normal weight, and 34.5% were overweight, 39.3% had a monthly income between 3,000–5,000 baht, 64.2% exercised only occasionally, 48.3% consumed alcohol. 9.5% smoked, 99.2% had a low level of knowledge about healthy eating, 70.3% had difficulty accessing food sources, and 42.4% received low levels of social support from friends. Factors significantly associated with overweight conditions among students were exercise (x² =6.474, p=0.039). According to the results of the study, activities should be organized to promote nutrition education and development of exercise programs to prevent overweight in students in the future.