The relationship between coffee consumption habits and body mass index among medical students

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a growing global health concern with increasing prevalence among young adults. Coffee consumption, particularly among medical students experiencing high academic stress, may influence body mass index (BMI) through various metabolic mechanisms. However, the relationship between different types of coffee and BMI remains inconclusive. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption habits (frequency and type of coffee) and BMI among medical students at Universitas Prima.

Methods: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in 2025. The sample comprised 87 medical students selected through simple random sampling from a population of 675 students. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing coffee consumption patterns (type and frequency) and self-reported weight and height for BMI calculation. BMI was classified according to WHO criteria: underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m²), and obese (≥30 kg/m²). Coffee consumption was categorized by type (Americano vs. milk coffee) and frequency (1-2 times/week vs. >3 times/week). Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with non-parametric tests.

Results:  Milk coffee was more popular than Americano among both male (72.1%) and female (89.6%) students. Among obese students, 100% consumed milk coffee, while underweight students showed the highest preference for Americano (37.5%). Students with normal BMI predominantly consumed coffee 1-2 times weekly (69.8%), while obese students showed higher consumption frequency (>3 times/week: 20%). Normality tests showed non-normal distribution of BMI data (p<0.001 for both coffee type and frequency). Bivariate analysis revealed no significant association between coffee type and BMI (p=0.220) or between consumption frequency and BMI (p=0.578).

Conclusion: Coffee consumption habits, including type and frequency, were not significantly associated with BMI among medical students at Universitas Prima. BMI appears to be influenced by multiple interacting factors beyond coffee consumption alone. Further research with larger samples and consideration of confounding variables such as physical activity, dietary patterns, and sleep quality is warranted.