Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116120

Angelee G. Shamaley-Kornatz, MS¹, Brenda Smith, PhD², and Joe Tomaka, PhD¹. (1) Health Promotion, UT El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell St, El Paso, TX 79902, 915-845-7222, agshamaley@utep.edu, (2) College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell Street, El Paso, TX 79902

Gender and ethnic differences in weight management practices and BMI in college students

The present study examined the relation of gender and ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Anglo) to weight management practices and BMI among college students in the Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. A sample of 769 students (64.5% female and 87.5% Hispanic) was asked to indicate which practices they employed for weight control in the last thirty days. Significant effects of gender found for most weight control practices included assisted dieting (p. < .05), skipping meals and fasting (p. < .05), exercise (p. < .05), and restraint dieting (p. < .001), with females indicating they used these practices more than men. In addition, we found a gender by ethnicity interaction for restraint dieting (p. < .05). The interaction indicated that differences between men and women for restraint dieting were larger for Anglo than for Hispanic subjects. Anglo females scored highest in restraint dieting compared to all other groups. Results suggest that females are more concerned about dieting and more preoccupied with their weight than males. Consistent with this finding, results for BMI Body Mass Index indicated that males were significantly more likely to be overweight (i.e., BMI > 25) than women (56% and 29%, respectively, p. < .001). Overall, the results contradict cultural stereotypes about weight and weight management practices among Hispanics and Anglos, particularly Hispanic and Anglo women. The high rates of overweight in this sample of students in various health-related disciplines suggest the need for additional weight control efforts—particularly those located at work/educational sites—in this population.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify practices used to manage weight.
• Learn about gender and ethnic differences in managing weight.

Keywords: College Students, Weight Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.