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UniStArt - A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study of Body Weight, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity Levels in Australian First-Year University Students633.04 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
UniStArt: A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study of Body Weight, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity Levels in Australian First-Year University Students
Biomedicines, Vol.10(9), pp.1-13
2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Students in the United States gain weight significantly during their first year of university, however limited data are available for Australian students.
METHODS: This 12-month observational study was conducted to monitor monthly body weight and composition, as well as quarterly eating behaviours, dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and basal metabolic rate changes amongst first-year Australian university students. Participants were first-year university students over 18 years.
RESULTS: Twenty-two first-year university students (5 males and 17 females) completed the study. Female students gained weight significantly at two, three, and four-months (+0.9 kg; +1.5 kg; +1.1 kg, p < 0.05). Female waist circumference (2.5 cm increase at three-months, p = 0.012), and body fat also increased (+0.9%, p = 0.026 at three-months). Intakes of sugar, saturated fat (both >10% of total energy), and sodium exceeded recommended levels (>2000 mg) at 12-months. Greater sedentary behaviours were observed amongst male students throughout the study (p <0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Female students are at risk of unfavourable changes in body composition during the first year of university, while males are at risk of increased sedentary behaviours. High intakes of saturated fat, sugars, and sodium warrant future interventions in such a vulnerable group.
Details
- Title
- UniStArt: A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study of Body Weight, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity Levels in Australian First-Year University Students
- Authors
- Nina A Wilson (Corresponding Author) - University of South AustraliaAnthony Villani (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - LegacySze-Yen Tan (Author) - Deakin UniversityEvangeline Mantzioris (Author) - University of South Australia
- Publication details
- Biomedicines, Vol.10(9), pp.1-13
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.3390/biomedicines10092241
- ISSN
- 2227-9059
- Copyright note
- © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99678897902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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