Body composition changes within the first four weeks of the freshman year at a private university (1031.6)

Abstract

Obesity rates and weight gain have been shown to increase within the first year on a college campus in the US. Gaining the “freshmen 15” may be due to a combination of factors, including poor eating habits and adjusting to an independent lifestyle. Freshmen weight gain studies focus on weight gain over long periods of time and very little is known about the acute changes in body composition during the first 4 weeks of the first semester at a private institution. To examine any differences in body composition, diet and physical activity in fifteen college freshmen (body mass index, 24.1 ± 6.9 kg/m^2, age, 18.3 ± 0.62 years) during the first 4 weeks of their fall semester at the University of La Verne. Following informed consent, participants (N=15, males n=9, females n=6) were asked to report to the laboratory for pre and post (four weeks after each participant’s initial testing session) body composition measurements (fat mass, fat free mass, etc…) and to complete the modified Kaiser Physical Fitness Survey (KPAS) along with a 3‐day dietary analysis. A paired T‐test to identify significant differences (p < 0.05) between pre‐ and post‐testing sessions for all participants was administered. Differences in body composition measurements (body mass 0.3 ± 1.2 kg, fat mass 2.0 ± 4.5 kg, p = 0.09, percent body fat, 1.4 ± 3.0 %, waist circumference 1.0 ± 3.8 cm) were found although no significant differences were associated. No significant differences were seen for caloric intake (‐292.2 ± 696.1 kcal) and physical activity (30.8 ± 386.7 score for KPAS), or between males and females across the 4 weeks for any of the variables measured. A trend in increasing fat mass exists in freshmen with no significant differences between gender for the first 4 weeks of the Fall semester. This suggests that the “freshmen 15” exists on the University of La Verne campus although either more participants or more time (greater than 4 weeks) is needed to see significant gains in body composition.