Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of underweight, overweight
and obesity among a sample of 300 undergraduates of the University
of Nigeria Nsukka, aged 16-29 years, using questionnaire and
anthropometry. The questionnaire was analysed using descriptive
statistics and the students‟ body mass index computed from
anthropometric data was compared with the standards. Sixteen per
cent of the students were overweight, 8.7% underweight and 2%
obese. About 14% underweight students had monthly pocket money
of < N5000 ($31.25), while 20.51% of the overweight received N6000 –
N15000 per month; 61.2% cooked their meals and 47.0% ate twice a
day. Among other factors, money/hunger/type of meal (31.51%)
influenced meal choice of the students. About 65% of normal weight
students did not perform physical exercises other than walking to
lectures. Some students had poor feeding pattern, skipped meals and
had insufficient physical exercise in terms of frequency and duration.
There is need to re-introduce the University student cafeteria and
physical exercise facilities