Relationship between Dietary Calcium Intake and Weight Gain Among College Freshmen at Utah State University

The present study was conducted with the use of data from the Freshmen Health Study, a longitudinal study of college freshmen aged 18 that examined change in diet, physical activity, and weight during the first year of college at Utah State University (USU). Participants were assessed at different data collection periods including the beginning and end of their first semester attending USU. Participants\u27 height and weight were measured and they were given a self-administered Food Frequency Questionnaire at each data collection. Simple linear and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess how dietary calcium intake related to weight change over a 16-week study period (one semester). There were 153 (82%) subjects who completed the second data collection during December 2005. The difference in weight between the beginning and end of fall semester was considered the main outcome. Changes in dietary calcium, dairy intake, and milk intake were also assessed as main outcomes. Means and standard deviations were used to describe population characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOV A) was used to compare means across gender and quartiles of calcium intake. Simple linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between dietary calcium intake and weight change. The multivariate logistic model controlled for gender, physical activity, baseline BMI, and fruit and vegetable intake. Risk of weight gain was not associated with increasing quartile of dietary calcium intake in either unadjusted or multivariable logistic regression models. Subjects\u27 mean calcium and dairy intake decreased significantly from baseline (p \u3c 0.001). Although the average calcium intake for this population was less than current recommendations set by the FDA, dietary calcium intake did not appear to have any influence on weight change. Dairy and milk intake decreased significantly from high school to college; therefore, specific interventions to increase calcium intake from dairy foods would be appropriate in the adolescent population, especially in college freshmen

Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight among young-adults during the transition from high school to college

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The freshmen year of college is likely a critical period for risk of weight gain among young-adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A longitudinal observational study was conducted to examine changes in weight, dietary intake, and other health-related behaviors among first-year college students (n = 186) attending a public University in the western United States. Weight was measured at the beginning and end of fall semester (August – December 2005). Participants completed surveys about dietary intake, physical activity and other health-related behaviors during the last six months of high school (January – June 2005) in August 2005 and during their first semester of college (August – December 2005) in December 2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>159 students (n = 102 women, 57 men) completed both assessments. The average BMI at the baseline assessment was 23.0 (standard deviation (SD) 3.8). Although the average amount of weight gained during the 15-week study was modest (1.5 kg), 23% of participants gained ≥ 5% of their baseline body weight. Average weight gain among those who gained ≥ 5% of baseline body weight was 4.5 kg. Those who gained ≥ 5% of body weight reported less physical activity during college than high school, were more likely to eat breakfast, and slept more than were those who did not gain ≥ 5% of body weight.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Almost one quarter of students gained a significant amount of weight during their first semester of college. This research provides further support for the implementation of education or other strategies aimed at helping young-adults entering college to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight.</p