Self-Regulation, Dietary Habits, and Obesity Trends Among Female College Students

Introduction Dietary habits and self-regulation are crucial in weight management, particularly among female college students. These students, navigating transitional life stages and academic stressors, often grapple with making healthy food choices. Understanding their self-confidence in resisting overeating and unhealthy foods can shed light on obesity trends within this demographic. Objective We determine the association between self-reported individual-level confidence in resisting the urge to overeat or choose less healthy food options and obesity among female college students. Methods From August 10 to October 20, 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among female students at Western Illinois University. Using a Likert scale, we gauged self-reported confidence in resisting overeating or unhealthy food choices. Responses were numerically scored (5-55), with higher scores indicating greater confidence. These scores were integrated into a multivariate analysis, investigating associations with obesity and depression risks, adjusted for age, race, and academic year. Results Of 375 female students meeting the criteria, the racial breakdown was 60.8% white, 21.9% black, 8.3% Hispanic, and 9.1% other. Age 18-21 covered 66.2%. BMIs were 44.0% normal, 21.9% overweight, and 30.1% obese. Depression was clinically diagnosed in 23.2%. The median dietary score was 34 (IQR 31-39).Every dietary score unit increase reduced the risk of being underweight by 3.9% (RR=0.96, 95% CI 0.89-1.04, P=0.31), overweight by 4.5% (RR=0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.99, P=0.022), and obese by 5.7% (RR=0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98, P=0.004) relative to normal BMI. Significant predictors of self-reported depression include being underweight or obese, being White, and having a family history of obesity. Conclusion In this cohort of college students in Macomb, female students with stringent dietary practices are less prone to overweight or obesity.