Overweight and obesity among female undergraduate students of Makerere University, Uganda: knowledge, prevalence and associated factors: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: The burden of diseases related to overweight/obesity is rapidly increasing, especially in low-and-middle-income countries. University students, especially females, are at high risk of being overweight or obese, predisposing them to non-communicable diseases. This study primarily assessed knowledge and prevalence of overweight and obesity; and secondarily factors associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) categories among female undergraduate students of Makerere University Kampala. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 female undergraduate students, proportionately sampled from all academic units. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires followed by weight and height measurements to compute Body Mass Index. Knowledge was scored on (1) food characteristics, (2) predisposing practices and environments, and (3) consequences of overweight and obesity; and categorised to adequate (≥70%) and inadequate (