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Physical activity, dietary intake, and body weight changes from high school to college among first‐year college students
Author(s) -
Filla Charlotte,
Gonzales Dana,
Hakkak Reza,
Hays Nicholas
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.989.1
Subject(s) - physical activity , medicine , weight gain , population , zoology , gerontology , recreation , body weight , demography , psychology , physical therapy , environmental health , biology , sociology , ecology
We examined body weight, diet, and physical activity among first‐year students during the transition from high school to college. First‐year students (n = 28) at a public university in central Arkansas completed an online survey during the spring semester, with participants instructed to report current (i.e. collegiate) and retrospective (i.e. final year of high school) data. Current weight was greater than high school weight (+2.7 kg, p = 0.008). Reported frequency of consumption of 3 food items was significantly decreased in college relative to high school: milk (−0.17 times/day), cheese (−0.27), and red meat (−0.18, all p < 0.05). Time spent in vigorous‐intensity physical activity during school, work, sports, or recreation was also significantly less in college compared to high school (all p < 0.05), although time spent walking or bicycling for transportation was significantly increased from 5.6 ± 16.1 to 49.5 ± 57 min/d (p < 0.001). Students on average experienced moderate weight gain during their first year in college, in conjunction with a decrease in vigorous activity and modest changes in food intake. Weight gain occurred despite large increases in time spent walking and bicycling for transportation. Interventions to increase vigorous activity, especially activities beyond walking and bicycling, may be particularly important in preventing weight gain in this population. Supported by UAMS Graduate School.