Study Title: Body Composition Changes in Students Living On and Off Campus

Approximate
Number of Subjects
100
Duration of
4 years
Participation
Number of Study
1
Duration of Study
4.5 years
Centers
Background and Rationale: When students enter college, they are bombarded by the myth of
the Freshman Fifteen and warned about their impending weight gain. Studies have evaluated
the validity of this myth and have shown that body composition does change during a students
undergraduate career (1). When comparing male and females weight, BMI, body fat percentage,
and absolute fat mass at the start of their undergraduate career versus the end of their senior year,
all components showed a significant increase in both sexes (1). Another study compared body
composition in the first two years of college, which concluded that although there still was a
slight weight gain in sophomores their overall body composition was healthier than freshmen (2).
Additionally, studies have shown that the majority of weight accumulation happens while at
school versus the summer months with a weight gain of 1.3 kg while at school and only a 0.1 kg
gain during the summer (3). The same study shows that percent of body fat significantly
increased during the 4 years for the female participants, and living situation was hypothesized to
play a role (3). Factors contributing to weight gain among the freshman population including
snacking behaviors, physical inactivity, workload, dietary restraint, alcohol consumption, and allyou-can-eat dining (4). In that same study living situations of college freshmen were examined
and illustrated a greater gain in BMI in college freshmen living on campus versus living at home
with their parents (4). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental factor of
students living arrangements and how it contributes to changes in body composition. We
hypothesize that student living on campus for all four years will have a greater increase in fat
mass than those students living at home.
Objectives:
Primary objective: to compare the changes in body composition in college students who live at
home to those who live on campus.
Secondary Objectives: To determine changes in fat mass and fat free mass.
To determine the dietary and energy expenditure factors that contribute.
Design: This study is a prospective, longitudinal, and observational study of the changes in body
composition of college students who live on campus and at home for the entire four years.
Methods: Participants will be University of Delaware students recruited during their freshman
year of college. An equal number of males and females will be enrolled. Two subject groups
will be composed of 50 students each. One of these groups will be composed of commuters from
home and have never lived on campus while the other 50 will be on campus freshmen who have
use a university meal plan.
To evaluate the primary objective, participants will be required to undergo an extensive
nutritional assessment and interview biannually. The assessment portion will consist of a brief
questionnaire evaluating participants lifestyle, anthropometric data including height, weight,
BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio and BIA using the tetra polar hand-foot device, and
biochemical data of protein status and glucose concentrations. The interview portion will consist
of a food frequency questionnaire, 24 hour recall, and a survey of the level of their physical
activity. The first interview will be administered in August before the start of participants

freshman year. The next interview will be conducted 6 months later in February when students
return for spring semester. This trend will continue for the participants 4 years of undergraduate
education. At the end of the 4 years, data will be compiled and the comparison of body
compositions between the 2 subject groups will be determined.
The secondary objectives will be met by quantifying the measures taken over the four years to
determine the changes in body composition. The factors contributing to the changes in the body
composition will be determined initially through correlation analysis of lifestyle characteristics
with physical data.
1. Gropper SS, Newton Anna, Harrington Paul, et al. Body composition changes during the first
two years of university. Preventive Medicineq. 2011;52(1):20-12.
2. Harrington PD. College freshmen weight gain: Residency effects. [Master of Science]. Auburn
University; 2009.
3. Gropper SS, Simmons KP, Connell LJ, Ulrich PV. Changes in body weight, composition, and
shape: A 4-year study of college students. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
2012;10(1139):2012-139.
4. HR Hull, ML Morrow, KC Heesch. Effect of summer months on body weight and composition
in college women. Journal of Women's Health, J Women's Health. 2007;10:1510-5.