Disparities in overweight and obesity among US college students.
OBJECTIVE
To examine social disparities and behavioral correlates of overweight and obesity over time among college students.


METHODS
Multilevel analyses of BMI, physical activity, and television viewing from 2 representative surveys of US college students (n=24,613).


RESULTS
Overweight and obesity increased over time and were higher among males, African Americans, and students of lower socioeconomic position and lower among Asians. Television viewing and in activity were associated with obesity, and disparities in these behaviors partially accounted for excess weight among African Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
Social disparities in overweight and obesity exist among college students. Promoting physical activity and reducing television viewing may counteract increasing trends.
Nelson
Toben F
TF
Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tnelson@hsph.harvard.edu
Gortmaker
Steven L
SL
Subramanian
S V
SV
Cheung
Lilian
L
Wechsler
Henry
H
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*