International Journal of Clinical Medicine

Volume 8, Issue 5 (May 2017)

ISSN Print: 2158-284X   ISSN Online: 2158-2882

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.52  Citations  h5-index & Ranking

Overview of the Prevalence and Associated Risk, Factors of Lifestyle Diseases in University Students

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DOI: 10.4236/ijcm.2017.85032    2,014 Downloads   6,523 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Background: The prevalence of lifestyle diseases is increasing rapidly in Youths (17 - 25 yrs). Factors such as poor diet, little or no physical exercise, and smoking are major contributors to this increase. Lifestyle diseases in youths present a timeline challenge as disease duration is longer and financial burden more costly. Aim: To analyse and synthesize published literature on the prevalence of and risk factors associated with four lifestyle diseases—obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cancer—in university/college students worldwide. Results: The literature indicates that among lifestyle diseases in university/college students, overweight/obesity (Body Mass Index > 25 kg/m2) had the highest prevalence of 45.6% and duration of approximately 5 years. Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension had lower prevalence rates but prehypertension which lingers >4 years was at 32.0%. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) had a fairly high prevalence in college students (21.7%); type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was found in much lower percentage (12.95%). Cancer had the lowest prevalence of >2% but was increasing in most regions based on the presence of multiple risk factors. Conclusion: Increase prevalence of these diseases in youths indicates that young people are at high risk of developing these diseases due to poor early lifestyle habits. Early corrective measures can reduce the burden of many lifestyle diseases.

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Nagheer, D. , Irvin, R. and Younger-Coleman, N. (2017) Overview of the Prevalence and Associated Risk, Factors of Lifestyle Diseases in University Students. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8, 344-352. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2017.85032.

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