Introduction:

Abdominal obesity is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Episodic excessive consumption of alcohol and physical inactivity are behavioral risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases.

Objective:

To analyze the association between abdominal obesity, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity in Panamanian university students.

Materials and methods:

Analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 374 Panamanian university students in the period April - December 2021. The questionnaire for the surveillance of risk factors for non-communicable diseases of the World Health Organization was implemented and waist circumference was evaluated. Abdominal obesity was established with a waist circumference ≥80 cm in women and ≥90 cm in men. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple analyzes were performed using logistic regression models to determine the association between the study variables. The Mann-Whitney U and Chi square tests were used to analyze differences by sex.

Results:

A third of the participating university students had abdominal obesity. Women reported higher levels of physical inactivity (<0,0001) and sedentary behavior (p=0,0010) than men. After adjusting for sex, age and socioeconomic status, abdominal obesity was associated with physical inactivity (OR: 1,762, 95% CI: 1,040 - 2,985, p=0,035) and episodic heavy alcohol consumption (OR 1,114, CI: 1,015 - 1,223, p=0,023).

Conclusions:

Students who reported low levels of physical inactivity and binge drinking were more likely to have abdominal obesity.