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Changes in Body Size and Diet Composition in College Females over the past 15 years
Author(s) -
Power Mariya V,
Tyzbir Robert S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a711-a
Subject(s) - obesity , medicine , composition (language) , carbohydrate , zoology , demography , endocrinology , physiology , gerontology , biology , philosophy , linguistics , sociology
Studies exist reporting the increase in obesity among female college students. Aims of this study were: determine if BMI changed in female college students over 15 years and identify dietary patterns that affect this change. 1001 college females in an elective course in nutrition participated in this study from 1992–2006. Height and weight were measured and BMI calculated. Total daily energy intake (TDEI) and percent of macronutrients were determined from a self reported, 3‐day dietary analysis. Data expressed as mean ± sem were analyzed using MINITAB. There was a progressive increase in BMI (p = 0.05) and in TDEI (p<0.05) in females from 1992 – 2006. This increase in TDEI adds up to 120 Kcal, which raised the average from 1845 Kcal in 1992 to 1965 Kcal in 2006. Intake of dietary protein increased 0.138% ± 0.037 (p < 0.01) and dietary fat increased 0.761% ± 0.071 (p < 0.01) while dietary carbohydrate decreased 0.924% ± 0.083 (p < 0.01) per year of study. The increase in dietary protein and fat in concert with the decrease in dietary carbohydrate may be responsible for the increase in TDEI and BMI seen in these women from 1992 – 2006. The surprising change in diet composition suggests a new meaning for the term “balanced diet” in college age females in the 21st century.