Biomaterial Database

College Students' Health Behavior Clusters: Differences by Sex. 2017

Sarah Colby, and Wenjun Zhou, and Morgan F Sowers, and Karla Shelnutt, and Melissa D Olfert, and Jesse Morrell, and Mallory Koenings, and Tandalayo Kidd, and Tanya M Horacek, and Geoffrey W Greene, and Onikia Brown, and Adrienne A White, and Sharon L Hoerr, and Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, and Kendra K Kattelmann

Associate Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Nutrition, Knoxville, TN;, Email: scolby1@utk.edu.

OBJECTIVE The study purpose was to identify clusters of weight-related behaviors by sex in a college student populations. METHODS We conducted secondary data analysis from online surveys and physical assessments collected in Project Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) with a convenience sample of students on 13 college campuses in the United States. We performed 2-step cluster analysis by sex to identify subgroups with homogeneous characteristics and behaviors. We used 8 derivation variables: healthy eating; eating restraints; external cues; stress; fruit/vegetable intake; calories from fat; calories from sugar-sweetened beverages; and physical activity. Contribution of derivation variables to clusters was analyzed with a MANOVA test. RESULTS Data from 1594 students were included. Cluster analysis revealed 2-clusters labeled "Healthful Behavior" and "At-risk" for males and females with an additional "Laid Back" cluster for males. "At-risk" clusters had the highest BMI, waist circumference, elevated health risk, and stress and least healthy dietary intake and physical activity. The "Laid Back" cluster had normal weights and the lowest restrained eating, external cues sensitivity, and stress. CONCLUSIONS Identified differences in characteristics and attitudes towards weight-related behaviors between males and females can be used to tailor weight management programs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297	Male		Males
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072001	Diet, Healthy	Dietary patterns which have been found to be important in reducing disease risk.	Healthy Nutrition,Prudent Diet,Healthy Diet,Healthy Eating,Healthy Eating Index,Diet, Prudent,Diets, Healthy,Diets, Prudent,Eating, Healthy,Healthy Diets,Healthy Eating Indices,Index, Healthy Eating,Indices, Healthy Eating,Nutrition, Healthy,Prudent Diets
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D013334	Students	Individuals enrolled in a school or formal educational program.	School Enrollment,Enrollment, School,Enrollments, School,School Enrollments,Student
D014495	Universities	Educational institutions providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees.	University