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Weight Goals, Perceptions, and Practices Among Hispanic and Anglo College Females

The University of Texas at El Paso

Brenda Smith

The University of Texas at El Paso

Joe Tomaka

The University of Texas at El Paso

This study explored the weight management practices, rates overweight and obesity, perceptions of body weight, and weight management goals in a large sample (N = 467) of Hispanic (n = 421) and Anglo (n = 46) female college students on the U.S.-Mexico border. Women self-reported their height and weight, weight perceptions, and weight management goals and practices. About one third of the sample was overweight and many reported using weight management methods, most notably exercise and restraint dieting. The only significant difference between Anglos and Hispanics was for exercise, where Hispanics reported exercising more frequently. Although most weight control practices positively intercorrelated, exercise and restraint dieting were negatively correlated. Path analyses showed that weight perceptions and weight management goals mediated associations between body mass index and weight management practices. Results suggest that weight management interventions emphasize increasing exercise and controlling calories, together, as a means to achieve healthy weight.

Key Words: weight management practices • Hispanics • physical activity • caloric restriction

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Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 29, No. 4, 535-553 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0739986307305816


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Shamaley-Kornatz, A. Articles by Tomaka, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?