The Impact of Living Arrangements, Dietary Intake, Physical Activity, Sleep and Stress on Weight Gain in First-year University of Aberdeen Students
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Sponsor
- University of Aberdeen
- Enrollment
- 80
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Body Weight (BW)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
The transition to university from secondary school comes with many changes to living arrangements, dietary and alcohol intake, physical activity, and stress. The purpose of this study is to explore weight gain in new university students in the UK under the 'Freshman15' phenomenon. This phenomenon is an expression commonly used in the United States and Canada to describe a weight gain of 15 lbs (6.8 kg) in students who transition from secondary school to university life. The research will assess to investigate the impact of lifestyle factors that predict students' weight gain during their first year at the University of Aberdeen. The study specifically focuses on how these factors vary based on their living arrangement. Also, the change in lifestyle will be explored in relation to age-matched individuals not-attending university.
Detailed Description
Detailed Description: The study will be an observational study with four groups including three groups of university student and a group of age-matched volunteers living in the same city that are not attending university as a control: 1. University students living at home. 2. University students living in private accommodation. 3. University students living in the halls of residence. 4. Non-university participants living in Aberdeen. Recruitment will take place over two academic years using flyers sent via email or distributed face-to-face among undergraduate first-year students at the University of Aberdeen (e.g., the Freshers Week), as well as in different public areas, such as supermarkets and shopping centres. If participants agree to participate in this study by signing the consent form, their involvement will last around eight months. This includes three research periods. One at the beginning of the academic year (late September/early October) and then a follow-up after three months (after the Christmas holidays in January), and at eight months (end of the academic year in May). Participants will be asked to come to a designated room at the University of Aberdeen. Each appointment will be in the morning (approx. 15 to 20 minutes for each visit). During each visit, participants will be provided with further details concerning the study and given time to ask questions. Measures: 1. Anthropometric Measurements will be taken: Body Weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI), Sitting Height Ratio (SHR), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), Finger Ratio, Body Fat (BF%), and Weight-for- Age Growth Charts. 2. Dietary intake will be examined in two distinct ways. Firstly, self reported questionnaire. Secondly, participants will be asked to complete 3 \* 24-hour recalls to assess their consumption of ( protein (g), fat (g), carbohydrate (g), energy (kJ), alcohol (g), total sugars (g), non milk extrinsic sugars (g), fruit (g), vegetable (g), meat (g), processed meat (g), poultry (g), and fish (g) ). They will report two weekdays and one weekend day by using Intake24 online dietary recall system. 3. Physical activity will be examined in two ways. Firstly, self reported questionnaire. Secondly, participants will use an ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometer (placed on the waist) to assess their physical activity (h), Activity intensity level (min), total awake duration (min), and total sleep duration (min) during weekdays and weekends. Participants will wear ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers for seven consecutive days except when taking a shower or swimming. 4. Stress: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire. 5. Socio-demographic characteristics: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire. At the end of each visit, the researcher will explain how the accelerometer and 24-hour dietary recall will be employed.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Full-time first-year undergraduate students attending the University of Aberdeen or age-matched non-university participants living in Aberdeen.
- •Aged between 17-20 years old.
- •Both males and females will be recruited.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Over 20 years old,
- •Pregnant/lactating, or taking medication which may affect their weight.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Body Weight (BW)
Time Frame: Baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Weight (kilograms) will be measured using a Bioimpedance (Tanita MC-580 P).
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Body Mass Index (BMI) will be measured height (Metres) using a Stadiometer and body weight (kilograms) using a Bioimpedance (Tanita MC-580 P). BMI (kg/m2) will be calculated by dividing weight by height squared.
Change in Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR)
Time Frame: baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) is the ratio of waist circumference to the hip circumference will be measured using tape (CM) . WHR will be calculated as WC divided by HC.
Change in Body Fat (BF%)
Time Frame: baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Body Fat (BF%) will be measured by Bioimpedance (Tanita MC-580 P).
Change in Weight-for- Age Growth Charts
Time Frame: baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Weight-for- Age Growth Charts will be used to calculate the weight for age percentile, and this done by calculator using this website (the Center for Disease Center (CDC) children charts for 2-20 year olds). Weight for age percentile will be calculated by entering (gender, birthday, weight, and measurement date).
Change in Finger Ratio
Time Frame: baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.
Finger Ratio will be measured using Vernier Caliper. I will measure the length of participant's index finger 2D of right hand from crease to tip. Then do the same for the ring finger 4D. Finger Ratio will be calculated as index finger 2D /ring finger 4D.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Protein Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Fat Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Carbohydrate Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Energy Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Alcohol Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Total Sugars Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Non-milk Extrinsic Sugars Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Fruit Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Vegetable Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Meat Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Processed Meat Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Poultry Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Fish Intake using intake24(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Dietary Intake using questionnaire(Baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, and at eight months (end of the academic year ).)
- Change in Physical Activity on Weekdays using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Physical Activity on Weekends using ActiGraph.(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in activity intensities using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Total Awake Duration on weekdays using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Total Awake Duration on Weekends using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Total Sleep Duration on Weekdays using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Total Sleep Duration on Weekends using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Bedtime on Weekdays using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Bedtime on Weekends using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Wake Time on Weekdays using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Wake Time on Weekends using ActiGraph(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Physical Activity using questionnaire.(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in Stress using questionnaire(baseline at the beginning of the academic year, then a follow-up after three months, at eight months (end of the academic year ), and after one year.)
- Change in lifestyle behaviours using questionnaire(After one year at university)