Body mass index and health-related lifestyle behaviors among university students in Saudi Arabia: a single center cross-sectional study
- 1Department of Community Health Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University
Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity are important public-health concerns among young adults. University students experience changes in dietary, physical-activity, sleep, and other health behaviors, but evidence from Saudi university populations remains heterogeneous.
Objective: To explore associations between BMI and selected dietary, physical-activity, sleep, and sociodemographic characteristics among university students.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed electronic questionnaire responses collected from January to April 2025 on a sample of 196 students. Weight and height were self-reported and BMI was recalculated as weight (kg)/height ² (m ² ). BMI was categorized as underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5 to <24.9), overweight (25 to <30), or obesity (≥30 kg/m ² ). Associations were examined using contingency-table analyses and limited exploratory multivariable linear and logistic regression models.
Results: Among 196 analyzed students, 17 (8.7%) were underweight, 106 (54.1%) had normal BMI, 38 (19.4%) were overweight, and 35 (17.9%) had obesity; thus, 73 (37.2%) had overweight or obesity. Associations of BMI category with lifestyle were not statistically significant. Electronic-device use before bed showed a sparse-cell association ( χ ² =23.438, df = 9, Monte Carlo p = 0.010) that should be considered exploratory. In adjusted linear regression, male sex ( β = 5.26 kg/m ² , 95% CI 2.36–8.16, p < 0.001), and students aged >23 years had higher BMI ( β = 2.86, 95% CI 0.44–5.29, p = 0.021). In adjusted logistic regression, male sex (OR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.19–6.19, p = 0.018) and age >23 years (OR = 3.15, 95% CI 1.17–8.43, p = 0.023) were associated with overweight/obesity.
Conclusion: Overweight and obesity were common. Gender and age showed associations with BMI status, whereas evidence for independent associations of the selected lifestyle measures was limited and imprecise. The cross-sectional design and self-reported measurements preclude causal inference
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BibTeX
@article{alafif2026body,
title = {{Body mass index and health-related lifestyle behaviors among university students in Saudi Arabia: a single center cross-sectional study}},
author = {Nora Alafif and Shabana Tharkar and Rinas Alharbi and Hadeel Althobaiti and Rawa Alamry and Reema Al-harbi and Waad Alfawaz},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1900451},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1900451/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Body mass index and health-related lifestyle behaviors among university students in Saudi Arabia: a single center cross-sectional study
AU - Nora Alafif
AU - Shabana Tharkar
AU - Rinas Alharbi
AU - Hadeel Althobaiti
AU - Rawa Alamry
AU - Reema Al-harbi
AU - Waad Alfawaz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1900451
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1900451/full
AB - Background: Overweight and obesity are important public-health concerns among young adults. University students experience changes in dietary, physical-activity, sleep, and other health behaviors, but evidence from Saudi university populations remains heterogeneous. Objective: To explore associations between BMI and selected dietary, physical-activity, sleep, and sociodemographic characteristics among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed electronic questionnaire responses collected from January to April 2025 on a sample of 196 students. Weight and height were self-reported and BMI was recalculated as weight (kg)/height ² (m ² ). BMI was categorized as underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5 to <24.9), overweight (25 to <30), or obesity (≥30 kg/m ² ). Associations were examined using contingency-table analyses and limited exploratory multivariable linear and logistic regression models. Results: Among 196 analyzed students, 17 (8.7%) were underweight, 106 (54.1%) had normal BMI, 38 (19.4%) were overweight, and 35 (17.9%) had obesity; thus, 73 (37.2%) had overweight or obesity. Associations of BMI category with lifestyle were not statistically significant. Electronic-device use before bed showed a sparse-cell association ( χ ² =23.438, df = 9, Monte Carlo p = 0.010) that should be considered exploratory. In adjusted linear regression, male sex ( β = 5.26 kg/m ² , 95% CI 2.36–8.16, p < 0.001), and students aged >23 years had higher BMI ( β = 2.86, 95% CI 0.44–5.29, p = 0.021). In adjusted logistic regression, male sex (OR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.19–6.19, p = 0.018) and age >23 years (OR = 3.15, 95% CI 1.17–8.43, p = 0.023) were associated with overweight/obesity. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity were common. Gender and age showed associations with BMI status, whereas evidence for independent associations of the selected lifestyle measures was limited and imprecise. The cross-sectional design and self-reported measurements preclude causal inference
SN - 2296-2565
ER -