22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Mandatory Physical Activity May Prevent Weight Gain in College Freshman
Allison R. Palisch* and Anna R. Greenwald
Dr. Jerry Mayhew, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to determine the average weight gain of Truman freshman during their first semester. Students (461 M, 597 F) enrolled in a required wellness class were measured during the first and 12th weeks of the semester for body composition. In addition, each subject underwent aerobic and resistance training 3 days/week. Men gained a significant 0.92 kg of weight (p<0.001), mediated largely by a 0.85 kg gain in LBM (p<0.001) and a smaller 0.08 kg gain in fat weight (p = 0.48). Women gained a nonsignificant 0.50 kg of weight (p=0.06), the product of a 0.31 kg gain in LBM (p=0.11) and a 0.19 kg gain in fat weight (p = 0.07). If these gains were protracted over a 30-week school year, men would gain 2.3 kg and women would gain 1.3 kg, which may indicate that mandatory physical activity prevents weight gain in both genders.
Keywords: Weight gain, Physical activity, Freshman 15, Body composition
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Health Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 15-5
Location: VH 1000
Time: 9:15