Abstract
To evaluate the association between weight gain and psychological dimensions of appetite, a sample of 83 ethnically diverse first-year undergraduate females had body mass index (BMI) assessed and completed self-report measures of hedonic hunger, mindfulness, and intuitive eating. Positive associations between mindfulness and intuitive eating and negative links between intuitive eating and hedonic hunger and BMI were observed over time. BMI gainers experienced a significant decline in intuitive eating across the first college semester. No significant between-group effects for mindfulness or hedonic hunger were detected. Preliminary results suggest that changes in internally derived appetite- and consumption-regulating processes may underlie weight gain during the first-year college transition. Implications for optimizing college health promotion efforts for young women at this developmental juncture are discussed.
Highlights
Evidence suggests that the increase in rates of overweight/ obesity is especially rapid among first-year college students (Lloyd-Richardson, Bailey, Fava, Wing, & The Tobacco Etiology Research Network, 2009; Wengreen & Moncur, 2009) and that elevated body weight once achieved may persist throughout adulthood (e.g., Gordon-Larsen, Adair, Nelson, & Popkin, 2004)
Data generated from an influential quantitative review revealed that the average weight gain observed during the first-year transition is considerably less than the popular notion of the “Freshman 15” (Vella-Zarb & Elgar, 2009), the weight increase still exceeds rates found in the general population (Levitsky, Halbmaier, & Mrdjenovic, 2004)
Levitsky et al.’s (2004) prospective analysis showed that consuming evening snacks, high-fat junk foods, and eating meals in “all you can eat” dining halls accounted for significant variance in first-year weight gain
Summary
The analyses reported here were generated from a larger initial-stage prospective cohort investigation seeking to elucidate biopsychosocial contributors to modifiable weight-related behaviors, weight gain, and other body composition changes among ethnically diverse first-year college women. Participants completed a standard demographic questionnaire at T1 and at both time points had the following body measurements taken: height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and percentage of body fat. After reverse scoring Items 2, 6, and 7, higher scores indicate greater mindful qualities. The total scale showed acceptable levels of internal consistency when tested with two separate college-age samples (Sample 1 α = .74; Sample 2 α = .77) during the original series of validation studies. The 6-item Food Presence subscale was selected as a brief measure of hedonic hunger. Participants are asked to indicate whether they feel the urge to eat in specific situations on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Adequate internal consistency was observed for the Food Presence subscale (females, α = .78; males, α = .75) among college students in the original validation studies.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
