The dual burden of obesity and depression among university students in the United Arab Emirates
1
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2985
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Depression is a common mental health disorder with a vast public health impact. Prevalence in the UAE ranges from 13 to 29%. Obesity is also a significant public health issue and has been found to have a bidirectional relationship with depression. Defining this relationship in populations is crucial to having tailored public health interventions. Aims &
OBJECTIVES:
To describe the distribution of overweight/obesity and depression and determine their associations among UAE University students between May 2024 and April 2025.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among students aged≥ 18 years. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data online. Obesity was defined using the WHO criteria. Analysis was conducted using STATA.
RESULTS:
We recruited 280 students with a mean age of 22±6 years. 78% were females, and 70% were Emirati. Their mean BMI was 25±7 kg/m2. The prevalence of self-reported depression was 16% (95%CI,12%-21%). This was much higher among students from colleges of Humanities (37%), Education (25%), and Science (21%;p=0.022), and among those with a family history of depression (33% vs 12%; p=0.001). We also found that 40% of the students were either overweight or obese. This was higher with increasing student age (p=0.006) and among males (52%) vs females (36%;p=0.035). Depression rate was higher among the overweight/obese group than the normal weight (22% vs 12%, respectively;p=0.033). This association remained significant after adjusting for students’ age, gender, ethnicity, family history, program, and college.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study highlighted an alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity among university students, with 1 in 2 male students affected. Depression prevalence was lower than in university students in the MENA and the US. However, the association between being overweight/obese and having depression was substantial. Hence, we need urgent and targeted public health interventions to reduce obesity and improve depression screening among university students.
Depression is a common mental health disorder with a vast public health impact. Prevalence in the UAE ranges from 13 to 29%. Obesity is also a significant public health issue and has been found to have a bidirectional relationship with depression. Defining this relationship in populations is crucial to having tailored public health interventions. Aims &
OBJECTIVES:
To describe the distribution of overweight/obesity and depression and determine their associations among UAE University students between May 2024 and April 2025.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among students aged≥ 18 years. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data online. Obesity was defined using the WHO criteria. Analysis was conducted using STATA.
RESULTS:
We recruited 280 students with a mean age of 22±6 years. 78% were females, and 70% were Emirati. Their mean BMI was 25±7 kg/m2. The prevalence of self-reported depression was 16% (95%CI,12%-21%). This was much higher among students from colleges of Humanities (37%), Education (25%), and Science (21%;p=0.022), and among those with a family history of depression (33% vs 12%; p=0.001). We also found that 40% of the students were either overweight or obese. This was higher with increasing student age (p=0.006) and among males (52%) vs females (36%;p=0.035). Depression rate was higher among the overweight/obese group than the normal weight (22% vs 12%, respectively;p=0.033). This association remained significant after adjusting for students’ age, gender, ethnicity, family history, program, and college.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study highlighted an alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity among university students, with 1 in 2 male students affected. Depression prevalence was lower than in university students in the MENA and the US. However, the association between being overweight/obese and having depression was substantial. Hence, we need urgent and targeted public health interventions to reduce obesity and improve depression screening among university students.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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