Effect of the summer months on body weight and composition in college women.
OBJECTIVE
College students and young adults are experiencing the greatest increases in rates of obesity, and 20% of college students are classified as obese. The objective of this study was to compare changes and rates of change in body weight and body composition between the freshman academic year and the summer after the freshman year among female college students.


METHODS
Participants were recruited early in their freshman year of college to participate in a prospective longitudinal study examining changes in body weight and composition over the college years. Height and weight were measured, and body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the beginning and end of the freshman year. Upon return from the summer for their sophomore year, participants returned to have all measurements repeated. Sixty-nine female participants completed all three visits.


RESULTS
Body weight increased 1.3 kg during the academic period and an additional 0.1 kg during the summer period. Body mass index (BMI) increased between the first two visits but did not change between the last two visits. However, percent fat increased at each visit. Fat-free mass significantly increased 0.5 kg over the academic year but decreased by 1.1 kg over the summer (p<0.05). Greater rates of change were detected in percent fat, fat-free mass, and BMI during the summer compared with the academic year (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in body composition between the academic and summer periods may reflect changes in living situations between these periods. Unfavorable changes during the summer suggest the need to promote healthy lifestyles to freshman women before they leave campus for the summer.
Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Holly R
HR
Hull
Michelle L
ML
Morrow
Kristiann C
KC
Heesch
Mary K
MK
Dinger
Jennifer L
JL
Han
David A
DA
Fields
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain; D016387:Women's Health