Perceived Risk For Heart Disease And Body Mass Index

Abstract

Even as the public becomes more aware of the growing prevalence of obesity, Americans continue to gain weight and increase their risk for hypokinetic diseases. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between individuals perceived risk for heart disease and their body mass index (BMI). Participants were college-age males and females (n=361) enrolled in a freshmen level Concepts of Fitness course. METHODS Subjects had their height assessed on a standard height scale to the nearest quarter inch and weight measured to the nearest pound using an electronic scale. Height was converted to cm and weight to kg. BMI was calculated by dividing weight in kg by height in m2. Disease risk was established according to ACSM guidelines by assigning the BMI score a categorical value (1 = underweight; 2 = normal weight; 3 = at risk; 4 = overweight/high risk). Participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire in which they were asked to rank their perceived risk for heart disease (1=low risk, 2=moderate risk, 3=high risk). RESULTS A Somers'd analysis was run to determine the level of agreement between the BMI categorical value and the perceived risk for heart disease categorical value. A low level of agreement (D=.221) was determined. Findings of the approximate t-value revealed measured variables (BMI and perceived risk) differed significantly from 0 (t=4.95; p= 0.00). Lastly, given the assumption students viewed perceived heart risk as a quantitative variable, the eta coefficient indicated BMI accounted for only 30% of the variability of the reported perceived risk for heart disease. Crosstabulation of responses revealed 23% percent of individuals in category 4 (high risk/BMI = 30.0 – 40+) perceived they had a low risk for heart disease, 59% perceived their risk to be moderate, and 18% perceived their risk to be high. CONCLUSION Less than 20% of individuals at high risk for CVD, as determined by BMI, perceived they were at an increased risk. Results indicated college-age students do not accurately perceive a decreased or increased risk of heart disease based on BMI.