RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity are risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in university students. METHODS: 883 students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Central University of Ecuador were included, who were surveyed with demographic data, smoking habits and physical activity. Body mass index, abdominal circumference and blood pressure were determined. Blood chemistry and lipid profile were performed. Central tendency and dispersion measures, average comparisons (Student's T) and Pearson's correlation were calculated to study quantitative variables and χ2 distributed statistic for the comparison of qualitative variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 25.5%. The body mass index was similar in both sexes (23.15 women / 23.57 men), waist circumference was higher in women. Men had higher than normal levels in blood pressure and elevated triglycerides while women had high cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: One of four students presents some degree of overweight or obesity and an important percentage of altered levels of plasma lipids and blood pressure. Blood glucose levels were found in normal ranges.