Year of Publication

2015

College

Public Health

Date Available

5-7-2015

Degree Name

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

Committee Chair

Katherine Eddens, MPH, PhD

Committee Member

Alex Howard, DrPH, ATC

Committee Member

Kathryn Cardarelli, PhD

Abstract

Research indicates that high school students constitute the largest portion of those participating in unhealthy weight control behaviors. There is, however, little research that indicates what this behavior is influenced from. This study investigated the relationship of Body Mass Index (BMI) and (discordant or concordant) weight perception to weight control behaviors among 9th-12th graders in the United States. Using data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), over 40 states and 13,000 surveys completed. Multiple Chi-square tests were performed, examining the association between BMI and weight perception in relation to weight control behaviors. We then examined whether perception predicted weight control behaviors rather than actual BMI status.

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

COinS