All ETDs from UAB

Advisory Committee Chair

Gerald L Glandon

Advisory Committee Members

Jeroan J Allison

Stephen H Craft

Herman R Foushee

Jewell H Halanych

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

2011

Degree Name by School

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) School of Health Professions

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and exposure to magazine advertisements among African-American college women aged 19 to 29. This study also sought to determine how personal, behavioral, and environmental factors affect the BMI of African-American college women. A sample of 252 African-American college women enrolled in undergraduate degree programs in the Southeast United States completed a web-based survey on their weight-related health behaviors and magazine usage. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Bivariate correlations showed significant associations between BMI and several independent variables, including age, mean household income, and physical activity. However, no correlation was seen between BMI and the main independent variable, Reader Usage Measure (RUM). In the full regression model, RUM was not significantly associated with BMI suggesting that other factors, such as African-American magazine readership, are influencing the BMI of African-American college women.

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