Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College

Differences in weight, body mass index (BMI), percent and absolute body fat, fat-free mass, and waist circumference were investigated in a group of males and females during the first three years (from 2007 to 2010) of college. Significant three-year gains were observed for weight 2.1±4.7 kg, BMI 0.7...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sareen S. Gropper, Karla P. Simmons, Lenda Jo Connell, Pamela V. Ulrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Obesity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/634048
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849401551583444992
author Sareen S. Gropper
Karla P. Simmons
Lenda Jo Connell
Pamela V. Ulrich
author_facet Sareen S. Gropper
Karla P. Simmons
Lenda Jo Connell
Pamela V. Ulrich
author_sort Sareen S. Gropper
collection DOAJ
description Differences in weight, body mass index (BMI), percent and absolute body fat, fat-free mass, and waist circumference were investigated in a group of males and females during the first three years (from 2007 to 2010) of college. Significant three-year gains were observed for weight 2.1±4.7 kg, BMI 0.7±1.6 kg/m2, percent body fat 2.7±3.3%, and fat mass 2.3±3.5 kg. A significant loss of fat-free mass, −0.5 kg, was observed among females. Absolute gains in weight, BMI, and percent and absolute body fat were highest during the freshman year, followed by the junior year, and lowest during the sophomore year. Among the 70% of students gaining weight over the three years, weight gain averaged 4.3 kg. The numbers of females with over 30% body fat doubled, and the number of males with over 20% body fat increased fivefold. Initially 15% of students were classified as obese/overweight and 79% normal weight; by the end of the junior year, 24% were obese/overweight and 70% were normal weight. Efforts on college campuses to promote healthy lifestyles among its student population are needed throughout the college years.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d0dcb72b7bf4bb6a7f67b4c4d30d3ee
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-0708
2090-0716
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Obesity
spelling doaj-art-8d0dcb72b7bf4bb6a7f67b4c4d30d3ee2025-08-20T03:37:44ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162012-01-01201210.1155/2012/634048634048Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of CollegeSareen S. Gropper0Karla P. Simmons1Lenda Jo Connell2Pamela V. Ulrich3Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, 101 Poultry Science Building, AL 36849, USADepartment of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, 308 Spidle Hall, AL 36849, USADepartment of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, 308 Spidle Hall, AL 36849, USADepartment of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, 308 Spidle Hall, AL 36849, USADifferences in weight, body mass index (BMI), percent and absolute body fat, fat-free mass, and waist circumference were investigated in a group of males and females during the first three years (from 2007 to 2010) of college. Significant three-year gains were observed for weight 2.1±4.7 kg, BMI 0.7±1.6 kg/m2, percent body fat 2.7±3.3%, and fat mass 2.3±3.5 kg. A significant loss of fat-free mass, −0.5 kg, was observed among females. Absolute gains in weight, BMI, and percent and absolute body fat were highest during the freshman year, followed by the junior year, and lowest during the sophomore year. Among the 70% of students gaining weight over the three years, weight gain averaged 4.3 kg. The numbers of females with over 30% body fat doubled, and the number of males with over 20% body fat increased fivefold. Initially 15% of students were classified as obese/overweight and 79% normal weight; by the end of the junior year, 24% were obese/overweight and 70% were normal weight. Efforts on college campuses to promote healthy lifestyles among its student population are needed throughout the college years.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/634048
spellingShingle Sareen S. Gropper
Karla P. Simmons
Lenda Jo Connell
Pamela V. Ulrich
Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
Journal of Obesity
title Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
title_full Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
title_fullStr Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
title_full_unstemmed Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
title_short Weight and Body Composition Changes during the First Three Years of College
title_sort weight and body composition changes during the first three years of college
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/634048
work_keys_str_mv AT sareensgropper weightandbodycompositionchangesduringthefirstthreeyearsofcollege
AT karlapsimmons weightandbodycompositionchangesduringthefirstthreeyearsofcollege
AT lendajoconnell weightandbodycompositionchangesduringthefirstthreeyearsofcollege
AT pamelavulrich weightandbodycompositionchangesduringthefirstthreeyearsofcollege