Christina D Economos1, M Lise Hildebrandt, Raymond R Hyatt. 1. New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. christina.economos@tufts.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine how stress and health-related behaviors affect freshman weight change by gender. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-six freshmen completed a 40-item health behavior survey and height and weight were collected at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Average weight change was 5.04 lbs for males, 5.49 lbs for females. Weight gain was related to increased alcohol consumption (P=0.014) in men and increased workload (P<0.001) in women. Weight loss was associated with lower academic confidence at baseline (P=0.009) and peer pressure modified by alcohol increase (P=0.025) in men, and fruit/vegetable consumption at baseline (P=0.015) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-specific approaches to weight management in this population are needed.
OBJECTIVES: To examine how stress and health-related behaviors affect freshman weight change by gender. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-six freshmen completed a 40-item health behavior survey and height and weight were collected at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Average weight change was 5.04 lbs for males, 5.49 lbs for females. Weight gain was related to increased alcohol consumption (P=0.014) in men and increased workload (P<0.001) in women. Weight loss was associated with lower academic confidence at baseline (P=0.009) and peer pressure modified by alcohol increase (P=0.025) in men, and fruit/vegetable consumption at baseline (P=0.015) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-specific approaches to weight management in this population are needed.
Authors: Jounghee Lee; Jaesin Sa; Jean-Philippe Chaput; James Heimdal; Beatrice Nelson; Beom-Young Cho; Elizabeth Kwon Journal: Osong Public Health Res Perspect Date: 2021-04-29