The prevalence of overweight and obesity among undergraduate health sciences students.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among female health science college students, and (2) determine if there is a relationship among certain socio-demographic characteristics and overweight and obesity in this population.


METHODS
A descriptive correlation design was used to conduct this study.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 151 undergraduate health science students officially enrolled in College participated in the study. A socio-demographic questionnaire, a digital bathroom scale and a standard tape measure were used for data collection. The socio-demographic questionnaire will be used to obtained demographic data and self report weight and height. The digital bathroom scale and the tape measure were use to obtain measured weight and height respectively, was used to obtain the measured weight and the standard tape measure will be used to obtain the measured height. True body weight will be determined using the Body Mass Index (BMI).


METHODS
Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and means will be used to describe the characteristics of the sample and to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the sample. Spearman Rho Correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship among socio-demographic characteristics and overweight and obesity. ANOVA was calculated to determine if there were differences in BMI based on grade level.


RESULTS
The majority of the sample was female, African American and ranged in age from 18-49 years of age. Over 40% of the sample was overweight or obese (42.8%): 24.3% were classified as overweight with a BML from 25.1 to 29.6 and 18.4% were classified as obese with a BMI over 30. There was no significant difference in BMI among the participants based on grade level. Family history and age were positively correlated with BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate important if not conclusive evidence that overweight and obesity exist among the sample of predominantly female, African American undergraduate health science students. More research is needed in this area and should include other variables such as childhood obesity, and dietary patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity is associated with many significant health problems. Health care providers should screen for obesity using the body mass index.
Adderley-Kelly
Beatrice
B
College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology