Association of Body Mass Index and Lifestyle Factors with Self-Reported Peptic Ulcer Disease among Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objective: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is an important gastrointestinal concern among university students. Evidence regarding the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and PUD remains inconsistent, while Nigerian studies have rarely examined BMI and lifestyle factors concurrently. This study assessed the associations of BMI and lifestyle factors with self-reported PUD diagnosis and symptom burden among undergraduate students of Achievers University, Owo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 391 undergraduates selected through stratified sampling. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, stress, sleep, substance use, PUD diagnosis, and symptoms were collected using a structured questionnaire, while anthropometric measurements were obtained directly. Data were analysed using chi-square, independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Spearman's rank correlation in SPSS version 27, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Normal BMI was observed in 62.4% of participants, while 23.8% reported a previous PUD diagnosis. Diagnosis was higher among females than males (28.9% vs. 14.2%). BMI was not associated with diagnosis (t = -0.603, p = 0.547; χ² = 1.499, p = 0.683), but symptom scores differed across BMI categories (F = 3.204, p = 0.023), with obese participants reporting the highest burden. Meal-skipping (ρ = 0.360), academic stress (ρ = 0.348), self-medication (ρ = 0.291), and NSAID use (ρ = 0.287) showed the strongest positive correlations with symptom burden. Conclusion: The BMI was not associated with reported PUD diagnosis but was associated with symptom burden. Lifestyle factors showed stronger associations with PUD-related symptoms, highlighting potential targets for university health interventions.