Term of Award

Summer 2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Anthony V. Parrillo

Committee Member 1

Jim McMillan

Committee Member 2

Stuart H. Tedders

Abstract

This study examined the effects of obesity on quality of life (QOL) using the ORWELL 97 questionnaire, which measured pychosocial (discomfort and impact) and physical (physical discomfort) distress. Data were collected during Spring and Summer semesters (2006) from physical activity classes and student organizations. A total of 166 students (84 males, 86 females) participated. Students were grouped by sex (male, female), weight category (obese, non-obese) or BMI (obese, overweight, normal weight), and geographic area (rural, urban); three-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested for main effects and interactions. Obese participants reported a poorer QOL than the non-obese, and females reported a poorer QOL than males; there were no significant differences for rural vs. urban areas. Psychosocial distress appeared to play a role in students' QOL; physical distress did not. The ORWELL 97 appears to be a useful addition to other istruments when measuring QOL in university students in the United States.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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