INTRODUCTION

The definition of body mass index (BMI), which is commonly expressed as kg/m2, is the product of a

person's body weight and the square of their height (Ta. With the assumption of an average body

composition, it is used to calculate an individual's adiposity based on height. Although BMI does not

provide a precise proportion of body fat, it is the most often used diagnostic method for determining a

person's weight in relation to their height and weight, allowing for easy identification of underweight,

normal weight, overweight, obese, and severely obese individuals (Messiah, 2020).

Obesity (defined as a body mass index (BMI) of > 30 kg·m–2) and “normal weight obesity” (i.e.,

having an excessive amount of body fat but a BMI in the normal range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg·m–2) are

linked to a number of health issues. While obesity has been associated with a higher risk of heart

disease, hypertension, stroke, and dyslipidemia, normal weight obesity or higher levels of adiposity

have been associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia (Grooper et al. 2012).

When evaluating a patient's nutritional status, estimating weight loss is crucial. According to Morgan et

al. (1980), the loss is typically computed by deducting the patient's observed weight (O) from either his

recalled weight (R) or his anticipated weight (P), which is derived from conventional tables or

equations. Body mass and height have a negative correlation with other physical characteristics. Body

weight was found to be predictably related to heart girth, wither height, hip width, and body length in

regressions that included the linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of a single independent variable (R2

>.95); the regression of body weight on heart girth had the highest R2, followed by hip width

(Heinrichs et al., 1992).

The following eating behaviors are examined in relation to calorie intake, body mass index, and weight

gain over time: eating disinhibition, enjoying food, responding to satiety, eating in the absence of

hunger, reinforcing the value of food, and impulsivity/self-control. The degree to which these

constructs overlap or whether they predict food choices, energy intake, and weight gain differently in a
naturalistic setting has not been thoroughly studied (French et al., 2012). Each of these conceptions has

been developed independently.

Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI < 18.5-24.99 kg/m2), overweight (BMI <

25.0-29.99 kg/m2), obese class I (BMI < 30.0-34.99 kg/m2), obese class II (BMI < 35.0-39.99 kg/m2),

and obese class III (BMI >= 40.0 kg/m2) are the categories that the WHO uses to categorize people

(Dickerson et al., 2011).

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are becoming more commonplace and are

increasingly recognized as general health issues. An estimated 16% of Americans between the ages of

6 and 19 are obese, according to studies published by the National Center of Health Statistics in 2002

(Toulabi et al., 2012). Despite the fact that obesity places a significant financial and medical burden on

society, programs and approaches developed to prevent and cure obesity are not flawless. Moreover, to

hereditary variables such as parental obesity, etc. (Tennant et al., 2010).

According to Merten et al. (2009), eating breakfast on a regular basis is a significant protective factor

against obesity and low nutritional status. The obese group consumed more snacks, sugary beverages,

fried and high-fat foods, and sweet and salty foods (Amini et al., 2005). According to Li et al. (2006),

overeating causes 280,000 deaths annually and has been linked to the difficulties of obesity and

chronic illnesses in recent years. A full model of adult BMI correlates has not been thoroughly

evaluated, nor has the relative impact of social, built environment, and individual components been

analyzed (Robertson-Wilson and Giles-Corti, 2010).

Youths' engagement in physical activity drastically decreases as they progress through puberty

(Casperson et al., 2000). Obesity has well-established direct dangers to physical health. However,

studies that have primarily focused on western research have demonstrated that childhood obesity may

have a negative impact on cognitive function and the development of one's self-concept (Braet et al.,

1997). Research conducted in Eastern Mediterranean nations shows that adult obesity rates have risen

alarmingly (Musaiger, 2011), with studies showing that the prevalence of adult obesity and overweight

ranged from 25% to 81.9% (Bakhshi et al., 2011). According to reports, the incidence of overweight
and obesity in adults in Iran varies between genders (Rahmani et al., 2015; Kiadaliri et al., 2015).

Ultimately, it results in a shorter lifespan and

Over 1.9 billion adults (18 years and older) were overweight, and over 650 million of them were obese

(O'Brien et al., 2016; Sanders et al., 2015). The prevalence of obesity [index (BMI) over 30 kg/m2] has

been rising globally among different age groups and among young people (Salarzadeh Jenatabadi et al.,

2020). The current rise in obesity prevalence rates shows that the disease is multifaceted and related to

biological, psychological, familial, and lifestyle variables (Ortiz et al., 2019; Sepulveda et al., 2019).

Obesity is a multifactorial illness (Chooi et al., 2019).

Decreased physical activity levels are a significant issue associated with urbanization. Research on

medical students revealed that, over the course of a week, only 26.5% of them engaged in regular

physical activity (Ogden et al., 2015), and a high percentage of students were inactive (Mourtakos et

al., 2015; Ogden et al., 2015).

Furthermore, obesity is a leading eating disorder globally, and our poor eating habits have contributed

to an increase in overweight and obesity (Kremmyda et al., 2008). The research indicates that students

frequently skip meals, including breakfast, and consume high-fat, high-energy snacks (Sobhi &

Parsamanesh, 2013; WY & AS, 2011). In addition, stress has been shown to have an impact on eating

behaviors in humans (Charmandari et al., 2005; Tomiyama, 2019; Yamamoto et al., 2011). Stress can

either reduce food consumption or cause overeating, with the rate of change being influenced by the

intensity of stressors (Tomiyama, 2019). Long-term stress has been linked to a greater desire to eat

meals high in energy, such as those high in fat and sugar (Dahlin et al., 2005).

Although the findings are conflicting (Bose et al., 2009), it appears that stress may be associated to the

prevalence of obesity (Rahimibashar & Motahari, 2013). Regretfully, medical students report feeling

extremely stressed out (Van Jaarsveld et al., 2009; Richardson et al., 2015). We designed a study to

look into the prevalence of obesity and overweight and the relationship between BMI and eating habits,

physical activity, and perceived stress among medical sciences students. This is because the transition

from adolescence to adulthood is a critical time for adopting health-related behaviors to prevent illness,
and medical students play an important role in promoting community health. Despite conflicting results

in studies, different provinces of Iran have different lifestyles.

1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

There is a great impact of behavior and lifestyle on the mean body weight among students.

Current practice is being used to check this impact on the second year students of Rawalpindi

Medical University of Pakistan. In this way, this current study will be designed for this specific

purpose in order to examine the measurement of body weight and its association with behavior and

lifestyles among students of second-year MBBS.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

This research has following objectives.

 To examine the impact of behavior on mean body weight among students of second-year

MBBS.

 To check the impact of lifestyle on mean body weight among students of second-year

MBBS.

1.3 OUTCOMES

 This research will be beneficial to observe the effect of behavior on mean body weight

among students of second-year MBBS.

 This research will be useful to estimate the mean body weight and its association with

lifestyle among students of second-year MBBS.