A Report on the Anthropometric and Health Characteristics of Foreign Students at SRBIAU in 2023-2024

Subject Areas :

Amirfaham Rezaee ¹ , Niloofar Bayat ² , Mahsa Aghaei ³ , Melika Sajadhosseini ⁴ , Melika Tahmasbi ⁵ , Behnood Abbasi ^{6 *}

1 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch
2 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch
3 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch
4 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch
5 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch
6 - Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch

Received: 2024-05-16 Accepted : 2024-08-07 Published : 2024-09-20

Keywords: Anthropometric Characteristics, Health Risks, Obesity, Physical Activity, Metabolic Disorders,

Abstract :

This study aims to assess the anthropometric and health characteristics of foreign students at the Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, during the 2023-2024 period. A total of 400 non-Iranian students participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and body composition, were taken using standardized equipment. Physical activity levels, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and heart rate were also assessed. The results revealed a significant prevalence of overweight and obesity (21.75%), particularly among females (31.93%), and high rates of hypertension and prediabetes. The study found a high proportion of sedentary individuals (70.6%), which is a key contributor to the observed health risks. These findings highlight the importance of addressing obesity-related health issues, particularly in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and their economic impact. This data is crucial for the development of targeted health policies, such as medical tourism and insurance adjustments for individuals at higher health risks. The study concludes that proactive measures are essential to prevent and manage the health conditions prevalent in this population.

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