Anxiety assessment and Waist to hip ratio in medical students

Abstract

The connection between obesity and common mental health disorders is an importantpublic health issue. The purpose of this study is to assess the anxiety among undergraduate students and to evaluate its correlation with obesity. Anxiety is easily assessed byZung Self Rating Anxiety Scale questionnaires as they are easy to understand by the participants. This study was planned to assess anxiety using in young obese adults.Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)of I year MBBS students and To correlate waist to hip ratio (WHR) with anxiety levels. 56 were males and 82 were females medical students were included in the study. Without knowing the interpretation of the scoring system, subjects were asked to fill the anxiety inventories in speculated time using Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), a 20-item self-report assessment device which included measures of state and trait anxiety. There was no statistical significance in the anxiety score between male andfemale group even though the mean levels of Zung were higherin WHR >0.9 and > 0.8 in male and female subjectsrespt. This study demonstrated no statistically significant difference in anxiety scores of overweight and normal weight young adults. Also there is no statistically significant association between anxiety and WHR. This type of study will help in detection of high anxiety students at an early stage which will be helpful in implementation of preventive measures at an early age. This will prevent harmful effects of stress on body functions.