OBJECTIVE: To assess weight changes, exercise and diet behaviors among college students from the beginning of freshman year until the end of senior year. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING: Private university in St. Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS: College students (138 females, 66 males). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and exercise and dietary behaviors were assessed by questionnaire. ANALYSIS: Changes in weight, BMI, exercise, and dietary patterns from the beginning of freshman year to the end of senior year. RESULTS: Females gained 1.7 +/- 4.5 kg (3.75 +/- 9.92 lb) [mean +/- SD] from freshman to senior year, and males gained 4.2 +/- 6.4 kg (9.26 +/- 14.11 lb) (both P < .001). Weight changes were highly variable between students, however, ranging from -13.2 kg to +20.9 kg (-29.10 to +46.08 lb). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Weight gain was common but variable among college students. Importantly, exercise and dietary patterns did not meet the recommended guidelines for many college students, which may have long-term health implications.
OBJECTIVE: To assess weight changes, exercise and diet behaviors among college students from the beginning of freshman year until the end of senior year. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING: Private university in St. Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS: College students (138 females, 66 males). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight and height were measured, body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and exercise and dietary behaviors were assessed by questionnaire. ANALYSIS: Changes in weight, BMI, exercise, and dietary patterns from the beginning of freshman year to the end of senior year. RESULTS: Females gained 1.7 +/- 4.5 kg (3.75 +/- 9.92 lb) [mean +/- SD] from freshman to senior year, and males gained 4.2 +/- 6.4 kg (9.26 +/- 14.11 lb) (both P < .001). Weight changes were highly variable between students, however, ranging from -13.2 kg to +20.9 kg (-29.10 to +46.08 lb). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Weight gain was common but variable among college students. Importantly, exercise and dietary patterns did not meet the recommended guidelines for many college students, which may have long-term health implications.
Authors: Krista Casazza; Andrew Brown; Arne Astrup; Fredrik Bertz; Charles Baum; Michelle Bohan Brown; John Dawson; Nefertiti Durant; Gareth Dutton; David A Fields; Kevin R Fontaine; Steven Heymsfield; David Levitsky; Tapan Mehta; Nir Menachemi; P K Newby; Russell Pate; Hollie Raynor; Barbara J Rolls; Bisakha Sen; Daniel L Smith; Diana Thomas; Brian Wansink; David B Allison Journal: Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr Date: 2015 Impact factor: 11.176
Authors: Melissa C Nelson; Nicole I Larson; Daheia Barr-Anderson; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer; Mary Story Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2009-05-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Brenda D Hayes; Rhonda Conerly Holliday; Bruce H Wade; Cynthia Trawick; Michael Hodge; Lee Caplan; Sinead Younge; Alexander Quarshie; David Satcher Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2009-05
Authors: Andrea E Kass; Megan Jones; Rachel P Kolko; Myra Altman; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Dawn M Eichen; Katherine N Balantekin; Mickey Trockel; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2016-03-29