Investigating the Lifestyle Habits and Cardiometabolic Health Among Young Adults in Pakistan
Tariq Waseem¹, Wafa Qaiser², Somia Iqtadar³, Muhammad Naeem Afzal⁴, Taj Jamshed⁵, Rizwan Zafar⁶, Samiullah Mumtaz3, Khalid Mahmood Khan7, Malik Asif Humayun8*
1Saleem Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
2Al-Aleem Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
3King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
4Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
5Sharif Medical & Dental College Lahore, Pakistan.
6Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan.
7Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
8Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Malik Asif Humayun, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMR.2026.04.012
Received: April 25, 2026
Published: May 22, 2026
Citation: Waseem T, Qaiser W, Iqtadar S, Afzal MN, Jamshed T, Zafar R, Mumtaz S, Khan KM, Humayun MA. Investigating the Lifestyle Habits and Cardiometabolic Health Among Young Adults in Pakistan. SVOA Medical Research 2026, 4:3, 114-123. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMR.2026.04.012
Abstract
Background: In Pakistan, the high prevalence of diabetes necessitates an understanding of its association with lifestyle factors, especially among young adults. This study examines the correlation between lifestyle habits and HbA1c and blood pressure in young adult medical students in Pakistan.
Methods: Conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 across 16 medical colleges, this analytical cross sectional study involved 1613 students aged 18-25 years. Participants with known diabetes, hypertension, or chronic conditions were excluded. Data collection included socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements, and clinical assessments of blood pressure and HbA1c levels.
Results: Results showed that 44.1% of participants were aged 22-24 years, and 63.4% were female. Over 46% were overweight or obese, and 4.0% had high blood pressure. Lifestyle assessments revealed significant habits such as skipping breakfast (47.5%) and a preference for fast food (17.2%), a sedentary lifestyle with a mean exercise time of 3.0±0.5 hours weekly. Gender differences were significant, with males more prone to diabetes.
Conclusion: The study highlights a notable prevalence of undiagnosed prediabetes (10.9%) and diabetes (0.9%) among young adults in Pakistan, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions and comprehensive nationwide studies to address the rising burden of diabetes and obesity among young adults in Pakistan.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; HbA1c; Lifestyle factors; Young adults