This study explored the weight management practices, rates overweight and obesity, perceptions of body weight, and weight management goals in a large sample (N = 467) of Hispanic (n = 421) and Anglo (n = 46) female college students on the U.S.-Mexico border. Women self-reported their height and weight, weight perceptions, and weight management goals and practices. About one third of the sample was overweight and many reported using weight management methods, most notably exercise and restraint dieting. The only significant difference between Anglos and Hispanics was for exercise, where Hispanics reported exercising more frequently. Although most weight control practices positively intercorrelated, exercise and restraint dieting were negatively correlated. Path analyses showed that weight perceptions and weight management goals mediated associations between body mass index and weight management practices. Results suggest that weight management interventions emphasize increasing exercise and controlling calories, together, as a means to achieve healthy weight.
Arriaza, C., & Mann, T.A. (2001). Ethnic differences in eating disorder symptoms among college students: The confounding role of body mass index. Journal of American College Health, 49, 309-324.
2.
CDC Surveillance Summaries. (1997). CDC surveillance summaries, youth risk behavior surveillance: National College Health Risk Behavior Survey—United States. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 46(SS-6), 1-50.
3.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (1997). Behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey data. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Author.
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). (2003-2004). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Author. Retrieved July 7, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/factsheets/nhanes.pdf
5.
Crago, M., & Shisslak, C.M. (2003). Ethnic differences in dieting, binge eating, and purging behaviors among American females: A review. Eating Disorders, 11, 289-304.
6.
Drug Benefit Trends. (2004). Obesity to overtake smoking as leading cause of death. Division of CMP Healthcare Media, 16, 164-165.
7.
Flegal, K.M., Carroll, M.D., Ogden, C.L., & Johnson, C.L. (2002). Prevalence and trends in obesity among US Adults, 1999-2000. JAMA, 228, 1723-1727.
8.
Garner, D.M. (1997, February). The 1997 body image survey results. Psychology Today, 30, 30-47.
9.
George, V.A., & Johnson, P. (2001). Weight loss behaviors and smoking in college students of diverse ethnicity. American Journal of Health Behavior , 25, 115-124.
10.
Grigg, M., Bowman, J., & Redman, S. (1996). Disordered eating and unhealthy weight reduction practices among adolescent females. Preventative Medicine , 25, 748-756.
11.
Harris, S. (1994). Racial differences as predictors of college women's body image attitudes. Women and Health, 21, 89-104.
12.
Klemchuck, H.P., Hutchinson, C.B., & Frank, R.I. (1990). Body dissatisfaction and eating-related problems on the college campus: Usefulness of the eating disorder inventory with a non-clinical population. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 37, 297-305.
13.
Lowry, R., Galuska, D.A., Fulton, J.E., Wechsler, H., & Kann, L. (2002). Weight management goals and practices among U.S. high school students: Associations with physical activity, diet, and smoking. Journal of AdolescentHealth, 31, 133-144.
14.
Lowry, R., Galuska, D.A., Fulton, J.E., Wechsler, H., Kann, L., & Collins, J.L. (2000). Physical activity, food choice, and weight management goals and practices among U.S. college students. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 18, 18-27.
15.
McKie, L.J., Wood, R.C., & Gregory, S. (1993). Women defining health: Food, diet, and body-image . Health Education Research, 8, 35-41.
16.
Mintz, L.B., & Betz, N. E. (1988). Prevalence and correlates of eating disordered behaviors among undergraduate women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 463-471.
17.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2003a, July). Defining overweight and obesity. Retrieved August 2, 2003, from the Centers for Disease Control Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm
18.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2003b, April). What is BMI? Retrieved October 29, 2003, from the Centers for Disease Control Website:http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi /
19.
National Center for Health Statistics. (2000 ). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults, 1999-2000 . Retrieved August 2, 2003, from the Centers for Disease Control Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm
20.
National Institute of Health. (1998). Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Bethesda, MD: Department of Health and Human Services, Author, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
21.
National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Conference Panel. (1992). Methods for voluntary weight loss and control. Annuals of Internal Medicine, 16, 942-949.
22.
Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Hannan, P.J., Perry, C.L., & Irving, L.M. (2002). Weight-related concerns and behaviors among overweight and non overweight adolescents: Implications for preventing weight-related disorders. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine , 156, 171-178.
23.
Paxton, S.J., & Sculthorpe, A. (1999). Weight and health locus of control beliefs in an Australian community sample. Psychology and Health, 14, 417-432.
24.
Serdula, M.K., Williamson, D.F., Anda, R.F., Levy, A., Heaton, A., & Byers, T. (1994).Weight control practices in adults: Results of a multistate telephone survey. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1821-1824.
25.
Stunkard, A.J., & Wadden, T.A. (1993). Obesity: Theory and therapy (2nd ed.). New York: Raven Press.
26.
Tiggeman, M. (1994). Gender differences in the interrelationships between weight dissatisfaction, restraint, and self-esteem. Sex Roles , 30, 319-331.
27.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ( 2000). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
28.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. (2001). The Surgeon General's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
