A college nutrition science course as an intervention to prevent weight gain in female college freshmen.
The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a nutrition course that stresses fundamental principles of human physiology, energy metabolism, and genetics helps prevent weight gain during the first 16 months of college life. A randomized control trial was conducted from January 1997 to May 1998 using volunteers. Forty female college freshmen participated in the intervention (college course, n = 21) and control (no course, n = 19) groups. The intervention was a one-semester nutrition science college course. Body weight, nutrient intakes, and knowledge were measured at baseline, the end of the intervention (4 months from baseline), and 1 year later (16 months from baseline). Statistical analysis was conducted using a repeated-measure analysis of variance. Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) students (BMI > 24) in the intervention group (n = 11) reported lower fat (p =.04), protein (p =.03), and carbohydrate (p =.008) intakes compared with the higher BMI students in the control group (n = 6). Dietary changes reported by the higher BMI intervention students were associated with the maintenance of baseline body weight for 1 year in contrast with the higher BMI control students who gained 9.2 6.8 kg (p =.012). The findings suggest that nutrition education emphasizing human physiology and energy metabolism is an effective strategy to prevent weight gain in at-risk college students.
Matvienko
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Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-1120, USA.
Lewis
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DS
Schafer
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*