Obesity and physical activity in college women: implications for clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships between levels of physical activity, health attitudes and behaviors, and specific health indicators in women attending college.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 116 college women, ages 18 to 24 years, participated in this research study at a moderate-sized midwestern university. The data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire; trained technicians collected physiological measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
The young women in this study had, on average, normal body mass indexes (BMIs) and reported activity levels consistent with or greater than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Items used to assign participants into the appropriate stage of the transtheoretical model of change were correlated with participants' perceived personal physical activity levels. Similarly, the participants, whose scores fell in the higher stages of the transtheoretical model, reported greater levels of physical activity; consumption of more fruits, vegetables, and water; and less consumption of high-fat/high-calorie foods.


CONCLUSIONS
The years between ages 18 and 24 are a critical time in the lives of young women. During this period, they develop physical activity and nutrition habits that will affect their health across the life span. Because of the sometimes insidious development of major health problems, young women's current health status may not accurately reflect the possible long- term results of negative health habits. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have many opportunities to identify and address major factors that, if unattended, may threaten the life-long health status of women. Health teaching in the areas of physical activity and dietary habits may be useful even in young women who appear to be healthy, are of normal weight, and are physically active. Poor dietary habits, if unattended, may eventually contribute to the development of obesity and related illnesses.
School of Nursing, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, USA. jclemen@siue.edu
Jacquelyn M
JM
Clement
Cynthia A
CA
Schmidt
Laura W
LW
Bernaix
N Kay
NK
Covington
T R
TR
Carr
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health