Overweight and Physical Inactivity Among African American Students at a Historically Black University

Little is known about correlates of overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity among African American students at historically Black colleges and universities.

To assess overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity among African American college students at a historically Black university in Maryland in the USA.

Data were collected from 268 African American college students in 2013. Data were analyzed with percentage difference z-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression.

Cross-sectional survey (student response rate = 49.9%).

The overweight/obesity rate of participants was 47.5%, which was higher than that of the U.S. college student population overall (34.1%) and a representative sample of African American college students (38.3%). When age and sex were controlled, a family history of obesity, skipping breakfast, drinking caffeinated drinks, lower family income, and smoking a pipe, cigars, or cigarettes daily were significant correlates of overweight (obesity included). The percentage of physical inactivity was 68.3, and physical inactivity was higher among women and overweight or obese students.

Given the high overweight and obesity prevalence among African American college students, historically Black colleges and universities in the USA should increase health promotion efforts targeting weight-related behaviors, particularly physical activity.