To Establish the Effects of Being Overweight or Obese on Mental Wellbeing, Social Lives, and Education in Private Medical and Dental College Students

¹Department of Anatomy and PDC, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.

²Department of Surgery, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.

³Final Year MBBS Student, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.

⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

⁵Department of Microbiology, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.

⁶Department of Internal Medicine, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

⁷Department of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan.

⁸Department of Paediatrics, Dow International Medical College (DIMC), Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: Mamoona Hashim Khan, Final Year MBBS Student, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan, Phone: +92 336 8049306, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: July 24, 2025

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Citation: Ashraf I, et al. (2025). To Establish the Effects of Being Overweight or Obese on Mental Wellbeing, Social Lives, and Education in Private Medical and Dental College Students. Medical Research. 4(1):14.

Copyright: Ashraf I, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of obesity and its association with mental health factors, including depression, anxiety, stress, social well-being, and mental wellness, among medical and dental students at a private college in Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among third-, fourth-, and final-year medical students of MBBS, third and final year BDS students at Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry over 6 months post-IRB approval. Logistic regression analyses assessed the relationships between obesity status and various mental health variables. The calculated sample size for the study was 355 participants. Data will be collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Ethical considerations involve written informed consent, ensuring data anonymity, and confidentiality. Results: The analysis revealed that students with poor social scores were 2.58 times more likely to be classified as overweight or obese compared to those with excellent scores (p=0.051). Mild stress was associated with a 60% lower likelihood of being overweight or obese (p=0.023). Students with mild anxiety were 47% less likely to be overweight or obese (p=0.026), while those with mild depression were 70.9% more likely to be classified as such (p=0.036). The type of medical educational program (MBBS vs. BDS) did not significantly influence the likelihood of obesity among students. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex relationships between mental health factors and obesity among medical and dental students. While mild stress and anxiety appear to be protective against obesity, mild depression is associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight or obese. Implementing targeted mental health support programs and promoting overall mental well-being may help improve both the mental and physical health of students in this population.

Keywords: Overweight, Obese, Mental Wellbeing, Social Lives, Medical And Dental College, Education.