en Epidemiology Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%">Background:</span></span></b> <span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%">University students are constituting a significant demographic amid rising obesity rates. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among students at Southern Technical University (STU) in Basrah, Iraq, as well as to explore the associated socio-demographic factors. </span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%">Materials & Methods:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"> Data were collected from 1006 undergraduate university students at STU using a stratified sampling method as a cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements were performed to calculate body mass index (BMI), with classifications based on World Health Organization criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. </span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%">Results:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"> The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 27.5% (overweight: 19.1%; obesity: 8.4%). Statistical analysis indicated a statistically significant association between age and BMI category (p=0.007), with higher prevalence in older age groups (21&ndash;23 years and 27&ndash;30 years). Age and female gender were identified as significant independent predictors for elevated BMI.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="color:black"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%">Conclusion:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"> The results demonstrate a significant overweight and obesity burden in this student population, consistent with regional trends of rising obesity rates. The findings highlight the need for further research to identify modifiable risk factors as well as to guide the development of evidence-based public health interventions targeting this important population.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> Overweight,Obesity,Students,University,Body Mass Index,Iraq, 101 108 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1011-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Saman Agad Hashim saman.hashim@stu.edu.iq 22400319475328460014118 22400319475328460014118 Yes Associated Prof., Dept. of Community Health, Technical Medical Institute, Southern Technical University, Basrah, 61001, Iraq. Ali Hamid Ibrahim 22400319475328460014119 22400319475328460014119 No Associated Prof., Dept. of Community Health, Technical Medical Institute, Southern Technical University, Basrah, 61001, Iraq. Alia Mohammed Abdulateef 22400319475328460014120 22400319475328460014120 No Associated Prof., Dept. of Community Health, Technical Medical Institute, Southern Technical University, Basrah, 61001, Iraq.