Background: Obesity is the leading cause of preventable death and conveys risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Overweight and obesity are common among college students, with surveys showing 35 per cent of college students to be overweight. Unhealthy diets and low physical activity are the major causes.
Objective: To examine rates of obesity, participation in exercise and predictors of exercise among a predominantly Hispanic (72 per cent) college student sample.
Methods: Three hundred and ninety two students completed questionnaires as part of a general health screening.
Results: General participation in exercise is high (61 per cent), but the majority (69 per cent) do not meet the CDC recommendations for physical activity. Also, Exercise Importance and Gender were strong predictors of participation in physical activity and exercise in this sample.
Conclusion: Strong attitudes are an important determinant of participation in physical activity in this sample. Future studies might explore these relationships among other ethnic/demographic groups, as well as test the effectiveness of attitude change interventions for increasing physical activity.
Koch J.The role of exercise in the African-American women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Application of the health belief model. J Am Acad Nurse Pract , 2002: 14(3): 126-129.
2.
US Department of Health and Human Services.Healthy people 2010. 2nd ed. With understanding and improving health and objectives for improving health (2 vols). Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2000.
3.
Woods C., Mutrie N., and Scott M.Physical activity intervention: a Transtheoretical Model-based intervention designed to help sedentary young adults become active. Health Educ Res, 2002: 17(4): 451-460.
4.
US Depatament of Health and Human Services.A report of the Surgeon General: physical activity and health. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1996.
5.
American College of Sports Medicine.ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lipincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.
6.
Hovell M., Sallis J., Hofstetter R., et al. Identification of correlates of physical activity among Latino adults. J Community Health, 1991: 16: 23-36.
7.
Crespo CH, Keteyian SJ, Heath GW, et al. Leisure-time physical activity among US adults: results from the third national health and nutrition examinations survey. Arch Intern Med, 1996: 156: 93-98.
8.
Dunn MS and Wang MQEffects of physical activity on substance use among college students. Am J Health Stud, 2003: 18: 126-132.
9.
Mouton CP, Calmbach WL, Dhanda R., et al. Barriers and benefits to leisure-time physical activity among older Mexican Americans. Arch Fam Med, 2000 : 9(9): 892-897.
10.
Tannehill D. and Zakrajsek D.Student attitude toward physical education: a multicultural study. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education , 1993: 13(1): 78-84.
11.
Sallis JF, Patterson TL, Buono MJ, et al. Aggregation of physical activity habits in Mexican-American and Anglo families. J Behav Med, 1998: 11: 31-40.
12.
Glanz K., Lewis RM, and Rimer BKHealth behavior and health education. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
13.
Petty RE, Barden J., and Wheeler SCThe elaboration likelihood model of persuasion: health promotions that yield sustained behavioral change. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
14.
Heath EM and Coleman KJAdoption and institutionalization of the child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health (CATCH) in El Paso, Texas. Health Promot Pract, 2003: 2(4): 157-164.
15.
Babor TF, De la Fuente JR, Saunders J., et al. AUDIT: The Alcohol use Disorders Identification Tests: guidelines for use in primary health care. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1992.
16.
Heatherton TF , Kozlowski LT, Frecker RC, et al. The Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence: a revision of the Fagerstrom tolerance questionnaire. British Journal of Addictions, 1991: 86(11): 19-27.
17.
Shamaley-Kornatz A., Smith B. and Tomaka J.Weight goals, perceptions, and practices among Hispanic and Anglo college females. Hisp J Behav Sci, 2007: 29: 535-553.
18.
Jakicic JMThe role of physical activity in prevention and treatment of body weight gain in adults. Journal of Nutrition, 2002: 132: 3826S-3829S.
19.
Birtwistle GE and Brodie DAChildren’s attitudes towards activity and perceptions of physical education. Health Educ Res, 1991: 6: 465-478.
20.
Koca C. and Demirhan G.An examination of high school students’ attitudes toward physical education with regard to gender and sport participation. Percept Mot Skills, 2004: 98: 754-758.
21.
Behrens TK and Dinger MKA preliminary investigation of college students’ physical activity patterns . Am J Health Stud, 2003: 18: 169-172.
22.
Andersen R. , Wadden T., Bartlett S., et al. Effects of lifestyle activities vs. structured aerobic exercise in obese women: a randomized trial. JAMA, 1999: 281: 335-340.
23.
Dunn A., Marcus B., Kampert J., et al. Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness. JAMA, 1999: 281: 327-334.
24.
Raynor DA, Coleman KJ, and Epstein LHEffects of proximity of the choice to be physically active or sedentary. Res Q Exerc Sport, 1998: 69: 99-103.
25.
Sallis JF, Hovell MF, Hofstetter CR, et al. Distance between homes and exercise facilities related to frequencies of exercise among San Diego residents. Public Health Report , 1990: 105: 179-185.
