title: A latent class analysis of weight-related health behaviors among 2- and 4-year college students and associated risk of obesity.
abstract: Little is known about the complex patterning of weight-related health behaviors in 2- and 4-year college students. The objective of this study was to identify and describe unique classes of weight-related health behaviors among college students. Latent class analysis was used to identify homogenous, mutually exclusive classes of nine health behaviors that represent multiple theoretically/clinically relevant dimensions of obesity risk among 2- versus 4-year college students using cross-sectional statewide surveillance data (N = 17,584). Additionally, differences in class membership on selected sociodemographic characteristics were examined using a model-based approach. Analysis was conducted separately for both college groups, and five and four classes were identified for 2- and 4-year college students, respectively. Four classes were similar across 2- and 4-year college groups and were characterized as "mostly healthy dietary habits, active"; "moderately high screen time, active"; "moderately healthy dietary habits, inactive"; and "moderately high screen time, inactive." "Moderately healthy dietary habits, high screen time" was the additional class unique to 2-year college students. These classes differed on a number of sociodemographic characteristics, including the proportion in each class who were classified as obese. Implications for prevention scientists and future intervention programs are considered.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA math0304@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stigler
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lust
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 2-and 4-year college students; audience segmentation; co-occurrence of health behaviors; latent class analysis with a distal outcome; obesity; young adults