Socio-Demographic Determinants of Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adolescents in Rawalpindi Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequency of major non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors among adolescents aged 13–17 years in public and private schools of Rawalpindi, and to assess the association of socio-demographic factors with these risk factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study among 400 adolescents aged 13–17 years from one public and one private secondary school in Rawalpindi was conducted. Two-stage stratified random sampling was used with equal numbers from grades VII to X. Data was collected using WHO Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Associations were measured using chi-square test, followed by logistic regression. Results: Of 400 participants (mean age 14.9 ± 1.4 years), 49.8% were male. Dietary risk (364, 91.0%), physical inactivity (351, 87.8%), and sedentary behavior (215, 53.7%) were the most prevalent NCD risk factors. Older age (AOR 14.67; 95% CI 3.88–55.47) and private school attendance (AOR 12.56; 95% CI 3.60–43.84) were the strongest predictors of dietary and physical inactivity risk (p < 0.001 for both). Higher grade level was independently associated with increased sedentary behavior (AOR 1.44; 95% CI 1.17–1.79; p = 0.001). Conclusion: School type and older age predicted dietary risk and physical inactivity, while sedentary behavior rose with grade level. Interventions should target screen time, affordable nutrition, and physical activity promotion.