Weight and health status of black female students

Objective. To examine black female students for the occurrence of risk fact ors associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle, namely obesity, hyperten sion, nicotine usage, dyslipidaemia and compromised mental health (depressi on). Design. A cross-sectional analytical study design was used. Ail participant s were examined within a period of 3 months during 1994. Weight, height, an d hip and waist measurements were taken. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip r atio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) were calculated for each subject. T wo systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were taken for each parti cipant. Questionnaires were used to determine specific risk factors related to lifestyle. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure psyc hological well-being. Fasting blood samples were collected and analysed for serum lipids and iron status. Setting. The University of the North in the Northern Province of South Afri ca. Subjects. A complete data set of sociodemographic information, anthropometr ic measurements and blood pressure readings, as well as a psychological hea lth test and a medical questionnaire, were obtained from 231 of the 431 fir st-year female students who attended the university orientation programme. Only students with a complete data set were included in the sample. Results. Eighteen per cent of students were overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9), 6.5 % were obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30), and 26.8% were underweight. Mean blood pressure, BMI, WHR and WC increased significantly with age and were highest among the greater than or equal to 24-year-olds. Only 1.6% of students had elevated blood pressure, 1.0% smoked and 4.4% took snuff. BMI, WC and WHR were positively correlated with blood pressure and age. Few stu dents had dyslipidaemia (3.8% cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l). However 14.5% were anaemic (Hb < 11.5 g/dl) and 24.6% had microcytosis (< 80 fl). Nearly one- fifth of students (17.7%) were classified as being moderately to severely d epressed. Conclusions. Black female students younger than 24 years exhibited few risk factors associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle. However in older wo men (greater than or equal to 24 years) there were significant increases in BMI, WHR, WC and blood pressure. A large number of students of all ages ex hibited moderate to severe depression and anaemia was prevalent.