Neck circumference (NC) measurement is one of the simple screening measurements, that can be used as a marker of upper body fat distribution to notice overweight. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between NC and overweight/obesity. In this cross-sectional study a total 198 college students (120 Female, 78 Male) aged 18-23 years were participated using convenience method. Anthropometric measurements of students were measured according to the guidelines of world health organization. Students with NC ≥37 cm for male and ≥34 cm for female and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² are identified as overweight. The percentages of the male and female students with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² were 9% and 15.8% respectively and with high NC were 47.4% and 23.3 % respectively. In both male and female students, there were significant and positive correlation of neck circumference with body weight (male, r=0.572; female, r=0.629; p=0.001), waist circumference (male, r= 0.407; female, r= 0.623; p=0.001), hip circumference (male, r=0.546; female, r=0.579; p=0.001), BMI (male, r= 0.532; female, r= 0.588; p=0.001), waist to hip ratio (female, r = .376; p= .001), and waist to height ratio (male, r= 0.33; female, r= 0.574; p=0.001). A significant and independent association was found between NC and overweight levels using multiple regression analysis in young adults. This study indicates neck circumference is a simple screening measure that can be used to identify overweight/obesity.

neck circumference, body mass index, overweight, anthropometry