Abstract:
Background: It is well documented that stress and anxiety can lead to over eating and obesity. The objective of the study was to explore the possible effect of academic examination stress on development of overweight/obesity in medical students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted which included 150 first year medical students of 2013 batch . Perceived Stress scale questionnaire was given and assessed prior to and during the examination. BMI was calculated prior and after examinations for students with height and weight data.
Results: Moderate amount of perceived Stress was prevalent among the students, more in the overweight BMI category of students and both Perceived Stress scores and BMI among medical students increased after exam and was found to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: The positive correlation between PSS and B.M.I demonstrated that stress increases the development of overweight/Obesity.
Key words: Perceived Stress Scale(PSS). Obesity. Body Mass Index(BMI)
Journal Authors
First Author – Dr. Shashikala K.T
Assistant professor of Physiology, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore.
Second Author –Dr. Srinivasulu Naidu.S
Professor of Physiology, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore.
Dr. Shashikala K.T
Assistant professor of Physiology, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore.
Correspondence Address :
Mobile 9611121123, E-Mail: drshashishankar@gmail.com