Selected Health Behaviors That Influence College Freshman Weight Change

Objective and Participants: The authors investigated the effect of physical activity (PA), fruit and vegetable intake, and alcohol use on 6-month weight change in 193 college freshmen (78.8% white, 88.2% women, 94.5% on a meal plan). Methods: The authors administered a Web-based survey in fall 2002...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of American college health 2008-01, Vol.56 (4), p.437-444
Main Authors: Kasparek, Danella Gilmore, Corwin, Sara J., Valois, Robert F., Sargent, Roger G., Morris, Richard Lewis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol Drinking
Alcohol use
At Risk Persons
Behavior modification
Body Composition
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Campuses
Clinical trials
College Freshmen
College students
Diet - statistics & numerical data
Dietetics
Disease control
Drinking
Eating Habits
Exercise
Female
Gender Differences
Health Behavior
Health behaviour
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Nutrition
Obesity
Physical Activities
Physical activity
Physical Activity Level
Racial Differences
Risk factors
Scientific Concepts
Sex Factors
Students - psychology
Studies
Undergraduate students
Universities
Vegetables
Weight control
Weight Gain
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Summary:Objective and Participants: The authors investigated the effect of physical activity (PA), fruit and vegetable intake, and alcohol use on 6-month weight change in 193 college freshmen (78.8% white, 88.2% women, 94.5% on a meal plan). Methods: The authors administered a Web-based survey in fall 2002 (baseline) and spring 2003 (follow-up). Results: There was an overall average weight gain of 2.5 lbs (p < .05), although only 57% reported weight gain (M = 7.1 lbs). Fruit and vegetable intake decreased (p = .034), alcohol use increased (p > .05), and PA was unchanged. Weight gain for students with body mass indexes (BMI) ≥25 kg/m 2 was nearly twice that of students with BMIs < 25 (p < .05). Students with low-frequency baseline PA were twice as likely to be overweight. Follow-up data showed that students reporting ≥ 4 sessions per week (ie, high frequency) of low-intensity PA were twice as likely to have healthy BMIs as students engaging in low- and moderate-frequency PA. Conclusions: PA interventions should target freshmen with BMIs ≥ 25.
ISSN:0744-8481
1940-3208
DOI:10.3200/JACH.56.44.437-444