Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35944

Differences between men and women in self-reported body mass index and its relation to drug use

Title:
Differences between men and women in self-reported body mass index and its relation to drug use
Authors:
Vera-Villarroel, Pablo  
Piqueras, Jose A  
Kuhne, Walter
Cuijpers, Pim  
van Straten, Annemieke  
Editor:
BioMed Central
Department:
Departamentos de la UMH::Psicología de la Salud
Issue Date:
2014
URI:
https://hdl.handle.net/11000/35944
Abstract:
Background: Obesity is a public health problem of alarming proportions, including among the university population in Latin America. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between the self-reported body mass index and the associated drug use and health-risk behaviors. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 3,311 Chilean university students (17–24 years). The variables weight, height, frequency of physical activity, diet quality index, and drug use were evaluated by way of a self-report questionnaire. Results: 16.7% of students were overweight and 2.1% were obese. Higher rates of overweight and obesity were observed in the men compared to women. There was a significant but moderate association between selfperceived obesity and being men and higher age, and just low with greater use of analgesics and tranquilizers with or without a prescription. Conclusions: The punctual prevalence rates of self-reported obesity, in this sample, are consistent with other Latin American studies. The risk behaviors associated with perceived obesity in terms of gender, particularly the different pattern of drug use, highlight the importance of considering gender when designing strategies to promote health in a university setting.
Keywords/Subjects:
Overweight
Obesity
Drugs
Health-risk behaviors
University students
Knowledge area:
CDU: Filosofía y psicología: Psicología
Type of document:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Access rights:
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-9-1
Appears in Collections:
Artículos- Psicología de la Salud



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