[Association of overweight with socio-demographic variables and lifestyle among Brazilian university students].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of overweight with socio-demographic variables and lifestyle among freshmen of a Brazilian public university. PARTICIPANTS A total of 685 students were evaluated in April 2008. METHODS Overweight was determined based on body mass index. Lifestyle and socio-demographic variables were established using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS Overweight was observed in 16% of the students and lifestyle was inadequate in 5.1%. The incidence of overweight was higher among male students (OR=2.69; 95%CI: 1.64-4.42), students aged ≥ 20 years (OR=2.01; 95%CI: 1.25-3.25), married students (OR=2.44; 95%CI: 1.11-5.40), and students who reported being more than 2 kg above healthy weight (OR=17.05; 95%CI: 7.73-37.63) and ingesting caffeine-containing beverages more than twice a day (OR= 1.66; 95%CI: 1.00-2.75). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the need for guidance of university students regarding a healthy lifestyle and for physical activity programs on the campus aimed at reducing excess weight, with special attention to male, older and married students.