The association between the body mass index of first-year female university students and their weight-related perceptions and practices, psychological health, physical activity and other physical health indicators

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between the weight status of first-year female students (FYFS) and various weight management-related characteristics to identify possible components of a weight management programme for students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Female residences at a South African university. Subjects: A total of 360 FYFS. Results: Mean (^standard deviation (SD)) body mass index (BMI) of the FYFS was 21.8^2.6 kg m 22 , with 7.2% being underweight, 81.9% normal-weight, 10.0% overweight and 0.8% obese. Underweight, normal-weight and overweight students differed with regard to their perception of their weight (P , 0.001), weight goals (P , 0.001) and previous weight-loss practices (P , 0.001). Mean^SD score on the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was 8.5^9.0 with 8.4% classified as high scorers. Mean^SD score on the 34-item Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) was 87.7^32.2, with 76.1% classified as low, 11.9% as medium and 11.9% as high scorers. The self-concept questionnaire indicated that 36.7% had a high, 43.9% a medium and 19.4% a low self-concept. Higher BMI correlated with a higher BSQ score (P , 0.001), a lower self-concept (P ¼ 0.029) and a higher EAT-26 score (P , 0.001). Smoking was prevalent amongst 13.1% of students, and 51.2% used vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Students who quitted smoking had higher (P ¼ 0.006) BMI (22.7^2.9 kg m 22) than those who never smoked before (21.6^2.5 kg m 22 ). Normal-weight students were more physically active than underweight or overweight students (P ¼ 0.038). Conclusions: The specific weight management-related needs of FYFS include information about supplement use, smoking, realistic weight goals, safe and sound weight-loss methods, weight cycling, body-shape perceptions, eating attitudes and behaviours, self-concept and physical activity. Interventions aimed at correcting these problems should target all students, regardless of their BMI.

Self-Reported Weight Patterns and Perceptions among Female Students of Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Survey

“…These results are in support with another study done on Asian populations [18] and in contrast with western populations [15] suggesting cultural influences. This indicates a poor prevalence of physical activity among female university students in the city which should be a cause for concern.…”

“…These results suggest that majority subjects in normal category according to International cut off are in the region 23-25 kg/m 2 BMI. The proportion of underweight females is 11 % and is similar to western and eastern studies which were done on students [15][16][17].…”

The influence of activities and nutrition status to university students’ achievements

“…Students with Normal weight weight is more active to Wasting or overweight students (p = 0.038) 20 . This number is higher to the adult.…”

Relación entre autoconcepto físico, ansiedad e IMC en estudiantes universitarios mexicanos / The Relation of Physical Self-Concept, Anxiety, and BMI Among Mexicam University Students

“…La obesidad se asocia con desordenes psicológicos y sociales como baja autoestima y bajo autoconcepto, sentimiento de inferioridad, nula capacidad de control sobre los impulsos, depresión, actitudes antisociales o inactividad (Mata et al, 2011;Silva et al, 2008). Diversos estudios han demostrado que personas con un índice de masa corporal (IMC) alto u obesas presentan un autoconcepto bajo (Adams y Bukowski, 2008;Cilliers, Senekal,y Kunneke, 2006;Jelalian, Sato, y Hart, 2011;Wallander et al, 2009). Las personas que tienen una baja condición física e índices altos en IMC, circunferencia de cintura y porcentaje de grasa presentan bajas puntuaciones en autoconcepto, en concreto sobre las autopercepciones físicas (Du Toit, Venter y Potgieter, 2005; Mitchell, Moore, Bibeau y Rudasill, 2012) y emocionales (Eddy et al, 2013).…”