Publication Date

1992

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Parham, Ellen S.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Human and Family Resources

LCSH

Women--Health and hygiene; Body weight

Abstract

In this investigation, factors associated with bodymass index (BMI), three-year weight fluctuation, and threeyear net weight change were identified. The subjects were 60 women ranging in age from 24 to 74 and were of varying degrees of adiposity. These subjects had participated in the Women's Nutrition Project each year and were not pregnant and/or lactating between the first year and the fourth year. Factors selected for this study included age, waist/hip ratio, triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid-arm circumference (MAC), caloric intake, percent of calories from fat intake, Eating Anxiety Index, Eating Restraint, report of dieting, reproductive history, activity patterns, exercise fluctuation, Health Practices Index, Satisfaction with Health Practices Index, Satisfaction with Food Intake Index, Holmes and Rahe Life Events Scale, Outlook Index, Importance of Slenderness Index, Husband Involvement Index, and Husband Pressure Index. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to identify correlations between the dependent variables and independent variables in order to aid in determining the appropriate model for subsequent multiple regression determinations. Two sets of multiple regression with and without anthropometric factors were calculated to predict the value of a dependent variable - BMI in year 4, threeyear weight fluctuation, and three-year net weight change - from a group of independent variables. The multiple regression equation revealed that four variables, initial TSF, MAC, waist/hip ratio, and caloric intake in year 1 accounted for 71.7 percent of the variance in the final BMI. Initial BMI and Health Practices Index were predictive factors for weight fluctuation and accounted for 27.8 percent of the variance in weight fluctuation over three years. Initial BMI and Health Practices Index entered the multiple regression equation and accounted for 26.3 percent of the variance in three-year net weight change. When anthropometric variables were removed from the group of the independent variables, caloric intake in year 1 and Eating Anxiety Index accounted for 29.7 percent of the variance in the final BMI. Eating Restraint accounted for 14.5 percent of the variance in three-year weight fluctuation. Caloric intake in year 1 and Health Practices Index accounted for 18.9 percent of the variance in threeyear net weight change.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [33]-35)

Extent

vi, 109 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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