March 2020 Vol. 8 No3

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Original Research Article

Comparison of frequency of depression, anxiety and stress between overweight and normal weight medical students

Shizma Junejo^1*, Giran Naz Jagirani², Sumera Iqbal Ansari³, Muhammad Shehzad⁴, Shaima Shahid⁴ and
Nasrullah Mengal⁴

¹MBBS Dow Medical College Karachi, MSc Clinical Nutrition Roehampton University London, Senior Lecturer Pharmacology Department, Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, Pakistan
²MBBS Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, House Officer, Civil Hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan
³MBBS Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, House Officer, JPMC Karachi, Pakistan
⁴MBBS Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, House Officer, PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi, Pakistan
⁴MBBS Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, House Officer, PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi, Pakistan
⁴MBBS Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, House Officer, PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: shizjunejo@hotmail.com
Tel.: 00923330240257

Accepted March 11, 2020

Abstract

This study compared frequency of depression, anxiety and stress in normal weight and overweight medical students. The study was a cross sectional study. Study duration was six months. Participants included 300 medical students from first year to final year MBBS of Bahria University Medical and Dental College. Depression, anxiety and stress levels were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, followed by 24 hour dietary recall. The scale included twenty one questions combined as three separate scales, measuring depression, anxiety and stress levels. SPSS version 23 was used for statistical analysis. Participants having normal weight were 119(39.66%) and overweight was 98(32.66%). Mean weight of participants was 64.72± 12.3. The mean height was 163.08± 9.17 and the mean value for body mass index was 24.455± 3.26. Majority of the participants 171 (55.5%) reported having more than eleven servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta group. The study revealed that overweight medical students had a higher predisposition towards depression compared to the normal weight medical students. The levels of anxiety and stress did not differ between the overweight and underweight medical students. The 24 hour dietary recall revealed erratic overall eating pattern of students.

Keywords: Anxiety, depression, overweight, stress, students