Abstract
College-student weight gain has been well-documented. However, little is known about
the sex differences in weight gain and related behaviors during the transition to
college. A repeated-measure study design was used to reveal measured weight changes
from October to December 2005 among male and female college students. Three-hundred
seventy-nine college students (60% males) participated in both weight assessments
and revealed weight gains occurring early in college. Weight gains were found to be
of greater incidence and magnitude among college males in the study. More than 25%
of both college males and females gained >2.3 kg body weight in an 8-week period.
Females starting the study with overweight and obese body mass index (calculated as
kg/m2) scores were less likely to gain than either obese or overweight body mass index
males or low to healthy body mass index students of both sexes. A life-course perspective
was used to analyze focus group discussions conducted among students who participated
in the weight assessments and explored their perceptions of the transition in eating
and exercise behaviors when coming to college. Students described struggles in adapting
healthful eating and exercise behaviors to college life. Comments indicated that while
college student activity levels differed from the past, there was consistent agreement
that eating healthful diets was perceived to be a greater challenge in the transition
to college. Male students were less concerned about weight and used fewer strategies
to control weight gain than females. More work is needed to understand the transition
of behaviors and in developing healthful lifestyles during college.
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Biography
M. Cluskey is an associate professor and D. Grobe is a faculty research associate, Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 6,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
