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Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania

Received: 5 December 2023    Accepted: 25 December 2023    Published: 8 January 2024
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Abstract

University students often face a multitude of health risks due to the transitional phase they experience. The lifestyles they adopt increase their susceptibility to metabolic issues that are of a public health concern. Metabolic risk factors, encompassing obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and elevated glucose levels pose significant health concerns among this demographic. The cluster of these metabolic risk factors is known as a metabolic syndrome which has the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases amongst young populations who are linked with the adaptation of health risk behaviours. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic risk factors of university students in two regions that were purposively selected from mainland Tanzania. The distribution of continuous variables was tested for normality using box plots and-Q plots and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the determinants of metabolic risk factors among variables. The metabolic risk factors that were assessed include blood pressure, glucose levels, central obesity, and lipid profiles. The most prevalent metabolic risk factor was the high levels of low-density lipoprotein among university students. The study found Low-density lipoprotein levels that were above optimal, borderline high, high and very high. The low-density lipoprotein levels found in the study were 24 (20.3%), 16 (13.6%), 13 (11%) and 17 (14.4%) for above optimal, borderline high, high, and very high respectively. Significant associations were also found in the determinants of the metabolic risk factors, for central obesity (P=0.000) and for triglyceride levels (P=0.000); (P=0.004). Factors that increase the susceptibility to metabolic risk factors include the location of the university, scholarship status and Individual dietary diversity scores. Saint John’s University in Dodoma was associated with low-density lipoprotein and Total cholesterol (β=17.01, SE=10.1, p=0.1) and (β=-0.170, SE=0.0519, p=0.01) respectively. Receiving scholarship and high dietary diversity score was associated with low-density lipoprotein (β=21.83, SE=10.4, p=0.1); (β=5.731, SE=3.14, p=0.1) respectively. University students are living with metabolic risk factors that could have future health implications. Understanding these aspects can help in devising targeted interventions and educational programs to mitigate metabolic risks and promote healthier lifestyles among university students.

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 12, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13
Page(s) 27-40
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Metabolic Risk Factors, Metabolic Syndrome, University Students, Determinants, Prevalence, Tanzania

References
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    Mgetta, N., Muhimbula, H., Kulwa, K. (2024). Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 12(1), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13

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    Mgetta, N.; Muhimbula, H.; Kulwa, K. Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2024, 12(1), 27-40. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13

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    AMA Style

    Mgetta N, Muhimbula H, Kulwa K. Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania. J Food Nutr Sci. 2024;12(1):27-40. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13,
      author = {Neema Mgetta and Happiness Muhimbula and Kissa Kulwa},
      title = {Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania},
      journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
      volume = {12},
      number = {1},
      pages = {27-40},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20241201.13},
      abstract = {University students often face a multitude of health risks due to the transitional phase they experience. The lifestyles they adopt increase their susceptibility to metabolic issues that are of a public health concern. Metabolic risk factors, encompassing obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and elevated glucose levels pose significant health concerns among this demographic. The cluster of these metabolic risk factors is known as a metabolic syndrome which has the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases amongst young populations who are linked with the adaptation of health risk behaviours. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic risk factors of university students in two regions that were purposively selected from mainland Tanzania. The distribution of continuous variables was tested for normality using box plots and-Q plots and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the determinants of metabolic risk factors among variables. The metabolic risk factors that were assessed include blood pressure, glucose levels, central obesity, and lipid profiles. The most prevalent metabolic risk factor was the high levels of low-density lipoprotein among university students. The study found Low-density lipoprotein levels that were above optimal, borderline high, high and very high. The low-density lipoprotein levels found in the study were 24 (20.3%), 16 (13.6%), 13 (11%) and 17 (14.4%) for above optimal, borderline high, high, and very high respectively. Significant associations were also found in the determinants of the metabolic risk factors, for central obesity (P=0.000) and for triglyceride levels (P=0.000); (P=0.004). Factors that increase the susceptibility to metabolic risk factors include the location of the university, scholarship status and Individual dietary diversity scores. Saint John’s University in Dodoma was associated with low-density lipoprotein and Total cholesterol (β=17.01, SE=10.1, p=0.1) and (β=-0.170, SE=0.0519, p=0.01) respectively. Receiving scholarship and high dietary diversity score was associated with low-density lipoprotein (β=21.83, SE=10.4, p=0.1); (β=5.731, SE=3.14, p=0.1) respectively. University students are living with metabolic risk factors that could have future health implications. Understanding these aspects can help in devising targeted interventions and educational programs to mitigate metabolic risks and promote healthier lifestyles among university students.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Risk Factors Among University Students in Dodoma and Morogoro Regions Tanzania
    AU  - Neema Mgetta
    AU  - Happiness Muhimbula
    AU  - Kissa Kulwa
    Y1  - 2024/01/08
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13
    T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    SP  - 27
    EP  - 40
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7293
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20241201.13
    AB  - University students often face a multitude of health risks due to the transitional phase they experience. The lifestyles they adopt increase their susceptibility to metabolic issues that are of a public health concern. Metabolic risk factors, encompassing obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and elevated glucose levels pose significant health concerns among this demographic. The cluster of these metabolic risk factors is known as a metabolic syndrome which has the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases amongst young populations who are linked with the adaptation of health risk behaviours. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic risk factors of university students in two regions that were purposively selected from mainland Tanzania. The distribution of continuous variables was tested for normality using box plots and-Q plots and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the determinants of metabolic risk factors among variables. The metabolic risk factors that were assessed include blood pressure, glucose levels, central obesity, and lipid profiles. The most prevalent metabolic risk factor was the high levels of low-density lipoprotein among university students. The study found Low-density lipoprotein levels that were above optimal, borderline high, high and very high. The low-density lipoprotein levels found in the study were 24 (20.3%), 16 (13.6%), 13 (11%) and 17 (14.4%) for above optimal, borderline high, high, and very high respectively. Significant associations were also found in the determinants of the metabolic risk factors, for central obesity (P=0.000) and for triglyceride levels (P=0.000); (P=0.004). Factors that increase the susceptibility to metabolic risk factors include the location of the university, scholarship status and Individual dietary diversity scores. Saint John’s University in Dodoma was associated with low-density lipoprotein and Total cholesterol (β=17.01, SE=10.1, p=0.1) and (β=-0.170, SE=0.0519, p=0.01) respectively. Receiving scholarship and high dietary diversity score was associated with low-density lipoprotein (β=21.83, SE=10.4, p=0.1); (β=5.731, SE=3.14, p=0.1) respectively. University students are living with metabolic risk factors that could have future health implications. Understanding these aspects can help in devising targeted interventions and educational programs to mitigate metabolic risks and promote healthier lifestyles among university students.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Department of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Department of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

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