Diversity of change in body mass index and skinfold thickness between different study courses within four years of study among the male students in a university in Poland

Authors

  • Gabriel Bobula University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland image/svg+xml
  • Wojciech Czarny University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland image/svg+xml
  • Zofia Ignasiak Faculty of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland image/svg+xml
  • Raja Chakraborty Department of Anthropology and Tribal Studies, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, West Bengal, India image/svg+xml
  • Slawomir Koziel Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.85.3.02

Keywords:

BMI, body fat, freshmen, skinfold, lifestyle

Abstract

Objective: This study examined whether there were significant changes (expectedly increase) in BMI (Body Mass Index), and relative subcutaneous body fat during the four years of study in a university and compared these changes between the students of different courses, viz., Computer science, Law and administration, Humanities and Physical education.

Design: This was a prospective follow up study with measurements at two time points with gap of four years. Body mass index, Triceps, subscapular, mid-axillary, abdominal, supra-illiac and medial-calf skinfold thicknesses were measured at two points of time, just after entrance to university and again after completion of four years. Student’s T-test, one-way ANOVA, and repeated measures ANNOVA (two-way) were employed to assess significance of differences in anthropometric measures between groups of students.

Setting: The study was conducted at the University of Rzeszów, Poland.

Participants: 191 young men university students aged approximately 19.5 years and 24.0 years, at the beginning and after four years, respectively, during this study.

Results: Students of all courses underwent increments in BMI, absolute- and relative skinfold thicknesses, except that the students of physical education course did not show change in skinfold thicknesses relative to BMI.

Conclusions: It has been concluded that the change in the adiposity profile during the years of study at university varied according to the course types. Further, detailed studies on the nature and cause of such variation occurring between course types may lead to better understanding etiology of overweight and obesity before entering to adult life.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anderson D, Shapiro J, Lungren J. 2003. The freshman year of college as a critical period for weight gain. Eat Behav 4:363–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-0153(03)00030-8
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-0153(03)00030-8

Augustynowicz A, Czerw A, Borowska M, Deptała A, Dykowska G, Fronczak A. 2019. Prevention of overweight and obesity undertaken by local government units in Poland. Health Policy 123:499–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.03.006
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.03.006

Beaudry KM, Ludwa IA, Thomas AM, Ward WE, Falk B, Josse AR. 2019. First-year university is associated with greater body weight; body composition and adverse dietary changes in males than females. PLoS One 14:e0218554. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218554
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218554

Breslow RA, Guenther PM, Smothers BA. 2006. Alcohol drinking patterns and diet quality: the 1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Epidemiol 163:359–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwj050
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwj050

Butler SM, Black DR, Blue CL, Gretebeck RJ. 2004. Change in diet; physical activity and body weight in female college freshman. Am J Health Behav 28:24–32. https://doi.org/10.5993/ajhb.28.1.3
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.28.1.3

Cluskey M, Grobe D. 2009. College weight gain and behavior transitions: male and female differences. J Am Diet Assoc 109:325–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.045
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.045

Deforche B, Van Dyck D, Deliens T, De Bourdeaudhuij I. 2015. Changes in weight; physical activity; sedentary behaviour and dietary intake during the transition to higher education: a prospective study. Int J Behav Nutr Phy Activ 12:16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-015-0173-9
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-015-0173-9

Deliens T, Clarys P, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Deforche B. 2014. Determinants of eating behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC Pub Health 14:53. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-53
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-53

Delinsky SS, Wilson T. 2008. Weight gain; dietary restraint; and disordered eating in the freshman year of college. Eat Behav 9:82–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2007.06.001
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2007.06.001

Dodd LJ, Al-Nakeeb Y, Nevill A, Forshaw MJ. 2010. Lifestyle risk factors of students: A cluster analytical approach. Prev Med 51:73–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.04.005
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.04.005

Economos CD, Hildebrandt MPH, Raymond RH. 2008. College freshman stress and weight change: Differences by gender. Am J Health Behav 32:16–25. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.32.1.2
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.32.1.2

Goodyear MDE, Krleza-Jeric K, Lemmens T. 2007. The Declaration of Helsinki. Br Med J 335:624–625. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39339.610000.BE
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39339.610000.BE

Gorgulho B, Marchioni DM, Conceicao AB, Steluti J, Mussi MH, Nagai-Manelli R et al. 2012. Quality of diet of working college students. Work 41Suppl 1:5806–9. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0958-5806
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0958-5806

Graham MA, Jones AL. 2002. Freshman 15: Valid theory or harmful myth? J Am Coll Health 50:171–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480209596023
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480209596023

Gunes FE, Bekiroglu N, Imeryuz N, Agirbasli M. 2012. Relation between eating habits and a high body mass index among freshman students: a cross-sectional study. J Am Coll Nutr 31:167–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2012.10720024
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2012.10720024

Hodge C, Jackson L, Sullivan L. 1993. The ‘freshman 15’ facts and fantasies about weight gain in college women. Psychol Women’s Health Q 17:119–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1993.tb00680.x
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1993.tb00680.x

Hoffman DJ, Policastro P, Quick V, Lee SY. 2006. Changes in body weight and fat mass of men and women in the first year of college: A study of the freshman 15. J Am Coll Health 52:41–45. https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.55.1.41-46
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.55.1.41-46

Johnson PH, Annesim JJ. 2018. Factors Related to Weight Gain/Loss among Emerging Adults with Obesity. Am J Health Behav 42:3–16. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.42.3.1
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.42.3.1

Keller S, Maddock JE, Hannöver W, Thyrian JR, Basler H. 2008. Multiple health riskbehaviors in German first year university students. Prev Med 46: 189–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.09.008
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.09.008

Kushner RF, Kahan S. 2018. Introduction: the state of obesity in 2017. Med Clin North Am 102:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.08.003
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.08.003

Levitsky DA, Halbmaier CA, Mrdjenovic G. 2004. The freshman weight gain: A model for the study of the epidemic of obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 28:1435–1442. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802776
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802776

Morrow ML. 2006. Freshman 15: Fact or fiction? Obes 14:1438–1443. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2006.163
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2006.163

Morseth B, Jorgensen L, Emaus N, Jacobsen BK, Wilsgaard T. 2011. Tracking of leisure time physical activity during 28 yr in adults: the Tromso study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43: 1229–34. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182084562
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182084562

Must A, Tybor DJ. 2005. Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a review of longitudinal studies of weight andadiposity in youth. Int J Obes 29: Suppl 84–96. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803064
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803064

Papadaki A, Hondros GJAS, Kapsokefalou M. 2007. Eating habits of university students living at; or away from home in Greece. Appetite 49:169–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.01.008
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.01.008

Pliner P, Saunders T. 2008. Vulnerability to freshmen weight gain as a function of dietary restraint and residence. Physiol Behav 93:76–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.07.017
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.07.017

Pullman AW, Masters RC, Zalot LC, Carde LE, Saraiva MM, Dam YY, Randall Simpson JA, Duncan AM. 2009. Effect of the transition from high school to university on anthropometric and lifestyle variables in males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 34:162–171. https://doi.org/10.1139/H09-007
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/H09-007

Racette SB, Deusinger PT, Strube MJ, Heghstein RH, Deusinger PT. 2008. Changes in weight and health behaviors from freshmen through senior year of college. J Nutr Educ Behav 40:39–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2007.01.001
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2007.01.001

Steptoe A, Wardle J, Cui W, Bellisle F, Zotti AM, Baranyai R, Sanderman R. 2002. Trends in smoking, diet, physical exercise, and attitudes toward health in European university students from 13 countries, 1990–2000. Prev Med 35: 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2002.1048
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2002.1048

Steptoe A, Wardle J. 2001. Health behaviour; risk awareness and emotional wellbeing in students from Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Soc Sci Med 53:1621–1630. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00446-9
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00446-9

Sun Y, Liu B, Snetselaar LG, Robinson JG, Wallace RB, Peterson LL et al. 2019. Association of fried food consumption with all cause; cardiovascular; and cancer mortality: prospective cohort study. Br Med J 364:k5420. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k5420
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k5420

Takomana G, Kalimbira AA. 2012. Weight gain; physical activity and dietary changes druing the first year at college. S Afr J Clin Nutr 25:132–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2012.11734417
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2012.11734417

Vadiveloo M, Dixon LB, Mijanovich T, Elbel B, Parekh N. 2015. Dietary variety is inversely associated with body adiposity among US adults using a novel food diversity index. J Nutr 145:555–63. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.114.199067
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.114.199067

Vella-Zarb RA, Elgar FJ. 2009. The ’freshman 5’: a meta-analysis of weight gain in the freshman year of college. J Am Coll Health 58:161–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480903221392
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480903221392

Weiner JS, Lourie JA. 1981. Practical Human Biology. New York: Academic Press.
View in Google Scholar

Wethington E. 2005. An overview of the life course perspective: Implications for health and nutrition. J Nutr Educ Behav 37:115–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1499-4046(06)60265-0
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1499-4046(06)60265-0

WHO (World Health Organisation). 2016. WHO Fact Sheet: Overweight and Obesity (16 February 2016): https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight Accessed: February 20, 2020.
View in Google Scholar

Yang Y, Fu M, Li M, Zhang K, Zhang B, Wang S et al. 2020. O-GlcNAc transferase inhibits visceral fat lipolysis and promotes diet-induced obesity. Nat Comm 11:181. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13914-8
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13914-8

Downloads

Published

2022-09-30

How to Cite

Bobula, G., Czarny, W., Ignasiak, Z., Chakraborty, R., & Koziel, S. (2022). Diversity of change in body mass index and skinfold thickness between different study courses within four years of study among the male students in a university in Poland. Anthropological Review, 85(3), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.85.3.02

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >> 

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.