Tracking weight change, insulin resistance, stress, and aerobic fitness over 4 years of college.
To determine if weight gain is accompanied by development of insulin resistance (IR) during 4 years in college.



Two cohorts of college students were enrolled in fall semesters 2009 and 2010 and tracked for 4 years.



Following a 12-hour fast, subjects reported for measurement of body mass index (BMI), perceived stress (PSS), aerobic fitness, and blood glucose, insulin, and lipids.



In the first year, 33% of subjects were overweight or obese, and 20% were hyperinsulinemic. Year 4 had 29 remaining subjects with disproportionate attrition of overweight and obese individuals. Just over half the subjects gained weight (WI), whereas nearly 30% lost considerable amounts (WD). WD showed significant decline in fasting insulin, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and PSS from year 1. WI was primarily highly fit men who did not demonstrate increased IR.



WI was not associated with IR over 4 years of college.
a Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology , Indiana University School of Medicine , Evansville , Indiana , USA.
Mari K
MK
Hopper
b Owensboro Health Regional Hospital , Rockport , Indiana , USA.
Shana Lynn
SL
Moninger
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
Aerobic fitness; BMI; insulin resistance; stress; weight