title: Prevalence and correlates of being overweight or obese in college.
abstract: Recent statistics indicate that over one-third of college students are currently overweight or obese, however, the impact of weight in this population from academic and psychiatric perspectives is not fully understood. This study sought to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in college students and its association with stress, mental health disorders and academic achievement. A total of 1765 students completed the College Student Computer User Survey (CSCUS) online at a large Midwestern United States University. Responders were classified by weight as normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index. Data were stratified by sex, with cross-tabulation and t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression for analysis. A total of 492 (27.9%) students were overweight (20.2%; range 25.01-29.98) or obese (7.7%; range 30.04-71.26). Overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower overall academic achievement, more depressive symptoms, and using diet pills for weight loss. Obese males had significantly higher rates of lifetime trichotillomania while overweight and obese females reported higher rates of panic disorder. Higher educational institutions should be aware of the significant burden associated with overweight and obesity in students, and of the differing demographic and clinical associations between overweight or obesity in men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: brod@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Odlaug
authors.affiliation: Boynton Health Services, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lust
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cathrine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wimmelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derbyshire
authors.affiliation: Boynton Health Services, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004032:Diet; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Academic; College; Education; Health; Impulse; Obesity; Weight