Obesity, Metabolic Syndromeand Related Risk Behaviorsamong Thai Medical Students of Thammasat University

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are the major health problems among children, adolescents and adults all over the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2008, more than one third of adults (35%) were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2). The worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008 [1]. In Thailand, the prevalence of obesity in adulthood is increasing from 13.0% in men and 23.2% in women in 1991 to 22.4% and 34.3% in 2004 respectively [2]. The increasing prevalence of obesity is related to the increase of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Metabolic syndrome is a known risk factor for the cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the adolescents and adults.