Changes in body weight, composition, and shape:

a 4-year study of college students

By: Kelsey Mathie
Definitions:
Hyperlipidemia: n!ol!es abnormally ele!ated le!els of any or all lipids"
Heart Disease: Class of diseases that in!ol!e the heart, and blood
!essels #arteries, capillaries, and !eins"$
Hypertension: High blood pressure
%tro&e: 'apid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood
supply to the brain"
Dyslipidemia: (bnormal about of lipids
Hyperglycemia: ( condition in which an e)cessi!e amount of glucose
circulates in the blood plasma"
BM: Body Mass nde)
(nthrometric (ssessments: *sed to determine body composition
especially in children"
(diposity: +he ,uality or state of being fat"
ntroduction:
-besity is &nown to cause many diseases such as: hyperlipidemia, heart
disease, hypertension, stro&e, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia" +hese are
some of the reasons why it is really important to ta&e care of our bodies
throughout our whole li!es" College freshman were recruited from (uburn
*ni!ersity.s incoming freshman class !ia email, fliers, and class
announcements in introductory courses typically ta&en by first year students
at the beginning of fall semester in /001"
2rocedures:
2articipants were assessed at the beginning of fall semester of their
freshman year and at the end of spring semester of their senior year" (t
the initial assessment, participants completed a demographic ,uestionnaire
to obtain self-reported information regarding se), race ethnicity, birth
date, state of permanent resistance, and resistance location at college" (t
both assessments, height and body weight, composition, and shape were
measured" +his study was part of a larger study, which included additional
anthrometric assessments along with ,uestionnaires in!estigating
en!ironmental, beha!ioral, and lifestyle habits, body image and satisfaction,
eating beha!ior regulation, stress, and depression o!er the 4-year period"
'esults:
-f the /40 initial participants o!er half, 343 participants returned at the
end of the senior year for reassessment" -f the non-returners, 45
participants were no longer enrolled in the uni!ersity, and 4 females were
not in!ited bac& to participate because of reported eating disorders" +he
initial weight and BM of non-returners did not significantly differ from
those of the returners" +here was an increase in both males and females in
weight, BM, body fat, fat mass, and a decrease in fat-free mass" +here was
also an increase in circumference of chest, waste, hips, seat, thigh, and
biceps"
+he distribution of weight, especially as fat, on the body also has been
shown to influence health" ncreased waist circumference has been
associated with increased ris& of insulin resistance, type / diabetes, and
heart disease" +he number of females with unhealthy waist circumference
measurements in the present study about doubled between the beginning of
freshman year and at the end of the senior year of college"
Conclusion:
*pward trends in the proportion of adolescents becoming obese in young
childhood ha!e been reported and are thought to continue" +he findings
from this study confirm this trend and suggest that an additional concern
may be the increasing pre!alence of those with normal BM but perhaps
e)cessi!e adiposity" (dditional health promotion strategies on college
campuses are clearly needed"
6or&s Cited:
7ropper, %"%", %immons, K"2", Connell, 8", 9 *lrich, 2":" #/03/$" 6eight and
Body Composition Changes during the ;irst +hree <ears of College" =ournal
of -besity, 3->" doi: 30"33??@/03/@>44045