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Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
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Health Belief Model Offers Opportunities for Designing Weight Management Interventions for College Students
Laura H McArthur1, Alysse Riggs1, Franchesca Uribe1
1Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Objective:
Identify weight-related beliefs of college students and test the predictive power of the Health Belief Model for body mass index (BMI).
Design:
Cross-sectional online survey with beliefs measured on 5-point scales.
Setting:
University in North Carolina.
Participants:
Undergraduates (n = 516; 91.9%), females (n = 399; 71.3%), white non-Hispanic students (n = 507; 86.2%), and 20.3% of overweight or obese status.
Variables Measured:
Perceived severity, susceptibility, barriers, benefits, and internal and external cues to action.
Analysis:
One-way ANOVA and regression. Significance was P < .05.
Results:
Strongest beliefs concerned benefits of healthy eating and physical activity (mean, 4.1 ± 0.7); weakest beliefs concerned barriers to adopting such behaviors (mean, 2.6 ± 0.9). The regression model was statistically significant (P < .001) and explained 17% of variance in BMI (multivariate coefficient = 0.177). Perceived severity, susceptibility, external cues, barriers, and benefits predicted BMI.
Conclusions And Implications:
Several beliefs were identified that could serve as the basis for weight-related interventions addressing specific concerns, needs, and goals of college students.
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