Students and Obesity Awareness Shape Health Behaviors
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Donna Gambino
Description
Per the World Health Organization, obesity refers to an excessive fat accumulation posing a risk to one’s health. A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 identifies individuals as overweight. BMI’s greater than 30 denotes obesity and associated with heightened mortality risk.1,2 A causal comparative design was used to identify difference across groups. The independent variable was the students grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions. Students who: 1) consider obesity a national health problem; 2) have been on a weight loss diet in the last year; 3) exercise 3X a week; 4) consume fast food greater than two times a week; 5) were informed by a physician they are overweight; 6) drink two or more cans of soda per/day; 7) consider meals at school healthy and 8) report eating junk food frequently. MANOVA identified statistically significant findings per Wilks’ λ (21, 35) = Infty (p<0.0001). One-way ANOVA contrasts identified four statistically significant criteria:1) Overall students (77%) consider obesity to be a national healthcare issue (p<0.0001); 2) Students (35%) reported participating in a weight loss (p<0.05); 3) Students (27%) reported consuming greater than two soft drinks daily (p<0.02) and 4) Students (33%) agreed the food available to them were healthy choices (p<0.0013). Students are aware that obesity is an issue and are somewhat informed of its causes. This information encourages school and health officials to work with students to combat obesity by providing healthier alternatives to the food choices students recognize as being unhealthy.
Students and Obesity Awareness Shape Health Behaviors
Per the World Health Organization, obesity refers to an excessive fat accumulation posing a risk to one’s health. A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 identifies individuals as overweight. BMI’s greater than 30 denotes obesity and associated with heightened mortality risk.1,2 A causal comparative design was used to identify difference across groups. The independent variable was the students grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions. Students who: 1) consider obesity a national health problem; 2) have been on a weight loss diet in the last year; 3) exercise 3X a week; 4) consume fast food greater than two times a week; 5) were informed by a physician they are overweight; 6) drink two or more cans of soda per/day; 7) consider meals at school healthy and 8) report eating junk food frequently. MANOVA identified statistically significant findings per Wilks’ λ (21, 35) = Infty (p<0.0001). One-way ANOVA contrasts identified four statistically significant criteria:1) Overall students (77%) consider obesity to be a national healthcare issue (p<0.0001); 2) Students (35%) reported participating in a weight loss (p<0.05); 3) Students (27%) reported consuming greater than two soft drinks daily (p<0.02) and 4) Students (33%) agreed the food available to them were healthy choices (p<0.0013). Students are aware that obesity is an issue and are somewhat informed of its causes. This information encourages school and health officials to work with students to combat obesity by providing healthier alternatives to the food choices students recognize as being unhealthy.
