Receipt of Health Information, Body Mass Index, And Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors Among University Students

This study examined relationships between receipt of health information, body mass index (BMI), and dietary and physical activity behaviors in a sample of university students (n=1,799). A cross-sectional design assessed health-risk behaviors. Students were placed into dichotomous categories related to receipt of health information, then grouped by risk and non-risk for each dependent behavioral variable; descriptive statistics were then generated. Odds ratios assessed relationships between receipt of health information and activity, diet, and nutrition for normal-weight and overweight students; odds ratios also assessed associations between BMI and diet and activity behaviors. Post-hoc analyses were also conducted. Students who received health information were more likely to: attempt weight-loss; diet; exercise at recommended levels; and eat well. Normal-weight students behaved more optimally than overweight students after receiving health information. Health messages may provide limited benefits regarding health-promoting behaviors; information should be but one component of a comprehensive strategy to target high-risk students.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Year dc:date.available

2005

Author dc:creator

• Meadows, Julianne M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stuart H. Tedders
• Steve Elliott
• Padmini Shankar

• ETD
• Receipt of health information
• Physical activity risk behaviors
• Dietary risk behaviors
• College students
• Body mass index

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/628

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1628