Trends in obesity prevalence and associated health risk behaviors among college women in the United States

The prevalence of obesity in the United States is rising. In response, health officials are targeting college women in an effort to prevent obesity. There is a lack of previous literature, however, establishing the current trends of obesity and related health behaviors among college women. Objective. To examine obesity prevalence and high risk obesity related behaviors among college women. Participants and Measures. 125,097 college women completed the ACHA-NCHA during the Springs of 2003-2007. Results. Black (43.3%) and Hispanic (34.0%) college women had the highest prevalence of obesity and the highest rates of being sedentary (44.8% and 33.0% respectively). Black and Hispanic college women were 2.33 and 1.53 times, respectively, more likely to be overweight or obese compared to white college women. Lesbian (27.9%) and bisexual college women (33.8%) also had high rates of overweight and obesity but only bisexual college women had a high rate of being sedentary (29.0%) compared to heterosexual college women. This resulted in lesbians being 1.73 times more likely and bisexual college women 1.53 times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to heterosexual college women. Conclusions. Health care professionals working with college populations need to recognize that particular subgroups of college women have a high prevalence of obesity. These racial/ethnic and sexual minority women have unique risk behaviors for obesity and as such need to be targeted individually to effectively prevent and treat obesity.