Prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among female university students: A cross-sectional study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) encompasses various metabolic abnormalities linked to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The study is aimed to assess the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among female university students, by gathering anthropometric data including Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), and Blood Pressure (BP) and evaluating biochemical data including total Cholesterol (TC), Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Triglycerides. This study done at Legacy University Okija assessed MetS prevalence among female students, gathering anthropometric (BMI, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP)) and biochemical data (total cholesterol (TC), fasting plasma glucose (FBS), HDL, triglycerides) after an 8-hour fast. The tests were done using standard laboratory procedures. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences in BMI groups and MetS components. The results showed that 2(2.9%) students were underweight, 49(70%) had ideal body weight, 12(17.1%) were overweight and 7(10%) were obese. The prevalence of the risk factors were: 7.1% for obesity according to WC, 7.1 % (high) and 1.4%(very high) for systolic BP, 18% for diastolic BP, 48.6% for triglyceride, and 7.1%(pre-diabetic) and 1.4%(diabetic) for FPG. Low HDL-C was absent. The highest prevailing risk factor was triglyceride. The variables with statistical significance were WC(p<0.05), FPG(p<0.05), and diastolic BP(p<0.05). Overall MetS prevalence was 1.4%. MetS is present, especially among the obese, but risk factors are also evident in other groups.