title: Examination of Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in University Students Enrolled in Kinesiology Degree Programs.
abstract: Preventing physical inactivity and weight gain during college is critical in decreasing lifelong obesity and associated disease risk. As such, we sought to compare cardiometabolic risk factors and lifestyle behaviors between college students enrolled in kinesiology and non-kinesiology degree programs to assess whether health and exercise degree programs may influence health behaviors and associated disease risk outcomes. Anthropometrics, fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipid profiles and HbA1c%, blood pressure, and peak oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) were assessed in 247 healthy college students. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA) was calculated using glucose and insulin levels. Self-reported physical activity from the Paffenbarger questionnaire was collected to estimate the average caloric expenditure due to different types of physical activities. Despite no significant differences in body mass index or waist circumference between groups, kinesiology majors presented with ∼20% lower fasting insulin levels and HOMA (p = 0.01; p < 0.01, respectively) relative to nonmajors. Kinesiology majors reported increased weekly participation in vigorous-intensity sport and leisure activities and, on average, engaged in >300 metabolic equivalent-h·wk, whereas non-kinesiology majors engaged in <300 MET-h wk (p = 0.01). Our data suggest that students enrolled in kinesiology degree programs display improved healthy behaviors and associated outcomes (parameters of glucose homeostasis). Practical outcomes of this research indicate that implementing components of a comprehensive kinesiology curriculum encourages improved health behaviors and associated cardiometabolic risk factors.
authors: 1Children's National Medical Center, Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia; 2Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 3Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 4Human Performance Laboratory, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut; and 5Human Performance Laboratory, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
authors: Gina M
authors: GM
authors: Many
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Lutsch
authors: Kimberly E
authors: KE
authors: Connors
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Shearer
authors: Haley C
authors: HC
authors: Brown
authors: Garrett
authors: G
authors: Ash
authors: Linda S
authors: LS
authors: Pescatello
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Gordish-Dressman
authors: Whitney
authors: W
authors: Barfield
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Dubis
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Houmard
authors: Eric P
authors: EP
authors: Hoffman
authors: Dustin S
authors: DS
authors: Hittel
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied / Q000193:education*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin