The PREVALENCE OF PSYCHOPSYCHIATRIC AILMENTS WITHIN OBESE FEMALE MEDICAL STUDENTS OF SOUTH PUNJAB

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of depression and anxiety within non-obese & obese female medical students of South Punjab and to observe their academic performance in context of pass percentage. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and six female medical students; fifty-three obese (BMI>24.9 + WHR≥0.8) and fifty-three non-obese (BMI≤24.9 + WHR<0.8) were selected from Nishtar Medical University, Multan, through convenience sampling and were assessed by AKUADS, BDI & BAI for prevalence of depression and anxiety respectively. To observe their academic performance, acquisition of a pass percentage within last professional exam was considered as an indicator to define academic performance in satisfactory terms.

RESULTS: Within the Obese Female Population, 81.1% had depression, and only 18.9% were normal, according to the AKUADS. While interpreting depression on BDI, 79.2% of the obese subjects presented with depression, while 20.8% showed no signs of depression. Moreover, on BAI, 77.4% of the obese females presented with anxiety, while only 22.6% of them were normal. The percentages of depression and anxiety among non-obese females were 22.6%,  26.4% and 20.8% on AKUADS, BDI and BAI respectively. As for academic performance, 79.2% of the obese females showed low academic scores; at the same time, only 20.8% of this population secured high academic scores. 66% of the non-obese subjects performed well academically. CONCLUSION: Obese females have high prevalence of psychopsychiatric ailments and perform less satisfactorily on academic front.