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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Disparities in overweight and obesity among US college students
Toben F Nelson1, Steven L Gortmaker, S V Subramanian
1Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tnelson@hsph.harvard.edu
Objectives:
To examine social disparities and behavioral correlates of overweight and obesity over time among college students.
Methods:
Multilevel analyses of BMI, physical activity, and television viewing from 2 representative surveys of US college students (n=24,613).
Results:
Overweight and obesity increased over time and were higher among males, African Americans, and students of lower socioeconomic position and lower among Asians. Television viewing and in activity were associated with obesity, and disparities in these behaviors partially accounted for excess weight among African Americans.
Conclusions:
Social disparities in overweight and obesity exist among college students. Promoting physical activity and reducing television viewing may counteract increasing trends.
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