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Self-regulation of eating and physical activity is lower in obese female college students as compared to their normal weight counterparts

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Obesity is characterized, among other features, by overeating, reduced physical activity and an abnormal accumulation of body fat. These features are thought to result, at least in part, from the individual’s inability to self-regulate their eating and physical activity behaviors (E&PaB). Self-regulation of the E&PaB is a three-step sequential process: self-observation, self-evaluation and self-reaction. However, it is yet unclear whether deficient self-regulation of E&PaB could predispose, facilitate and/or consolidate obesity. Unraveling this issue is fundamental in order to more precisely define the role of self-regulation of E&PaB in the management of obesity.

Methods

This research was focused on the question of whether or not self-regulation of E&PaB is related to obesity in female undergraduate students. This population segment seems especially vulnerable to developing obesity since they undergo a significant shift of their E&PaB upon their university enrollment. To address this question, a cross-sectional study with 108 female undergraduate students with normal weight (n = 80) or obesity (n = 28) was performed, in which self-regulation of eating habits and physical activity was measured by two validated scales and a personal data questionnaire.

Results

Female undergraduate students displaying lower E&PaB self-reactions were consistently overweight or obese. In addition, a multivariate analysis identified high levels of self-reaction towards eating habits related to a minor presence of overweight issues or obesity.

Conclusion

Self-regulation should be an essential component in the strategies for obesity prevention as an integral approach that must include orientation about healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. In addition, further studies on the effect of self-regulation in the treatment of the obesity are needed.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Claudia Enriquez-Hernández, Eva Karen Mendiola, Oswaldo Pérez, Efraín Espinosa and the administrative staff of the Nursing School, Region Veracruz, Universidad Veracruzana, who provided support during data collection. Authors acknowledge the Coordinación de la Investigación Científica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and to the Dirección General de Relaciones Internacionales Coordinación de Movilidad Estudiantil y Académica, Universidad Veracruzana for providing financial support for an exchange program on behalf of Gabriel Gutierrez Ospina. Sara Robledo Waters proofread all the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Salud Pública, Universidad Veracruzana, Luis Castelazo Ayala s/n, Col. Industrial Ánimas, 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Yolanda Campos-Uscanga & Jaime Morales-Romero

  2. Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Coordinación de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad # 3000, Distrito Federal, 04510, Mexico

    Gabriel Gutiérrez-Ospina

  3. Área de Biología y Salud Integral, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Luis Castelazo Ayala s/n, Col. Industrial Ánimas, 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Tania Romo-González

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  1. Yolanda Campos-Uscanga
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  2. Gabriel Gutiérrez-Ospina
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  3. Jaime Morales-Romero
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  4. Tania Romo-González
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tania Romo-González.

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This study was not funded.

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All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed with the participants were in accordance with the ethical standards and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The College of Researchers at the Institute of Public Health of the Universidad Veracruzana reviewed and approved the protocols used to gather the data.

Informed consent

An informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Campos-Uscanga, Y., Gutiérrez-Ospina, G., Morales-Romero, J. et al. Self-regulation of eating and physical activity is lower in obese female college students as compared to their normal weight counterparts. Eat Weight Disord 22, 311–319 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-016-0338-9

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