Physical Activity, Sport Participation, and Perceived Barriers to Engagement in First-Year Canadian University Students

Social marketing targeting healthy eating and physical activity in young adult university students: A scoping review

Adult obesity has remained a key health concern globally. Theory-based social marketing interventions are considered effective for improving dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviours. However, their application in universities is not yet established. This review aimed to identify social marketing strategies targeting healthy eating and/or PA behaviours of young adult university students and outline the intervention effectiveness. Literature search, screening, and data extraction followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were searched for intervention and exploratory studies published between January 1, 2000, and September 20, 2023. Twelve articles were selected based on the eligibility criteria. Although different in study design, all studies reported improved healthy eating-related outcomes, while three showed improved PA-related outcomes. One study incorporated all six of the social marketing benchmarks, but the majority identified two. Most studies focused on behavioural objective, formative research, and marketing mix in their intervention design. Four studies incorporated behaviour change theories in development of the social marketing campaigns. Social marketing using social media could be a significant approach for improving healthy eating and PA in young adult university students when behavioural change theories and all social marketing benchmarks are adopted. More generalizable longer-term investigation into the effectiveness of this approach in university young adults is needed to tackle adult obesity related health issues.

Examining changes of adolescent physical habitus-a retrospective study of physical capital networks

Introduction

In recent years, massive studies have examined sport from the standpoint of cultural capital. However, these studies have not examined cultural capital in relation to habitus within specific fields.

Methods

This article utilized a multivariate latent growth curve model to analyze changes of participants' physical habitus. Hypotheses concerning the form of growth in physical habitus, individual perceived capital influence differences in the common trajectory over time, and covariates influencing the growth of PH were tested.

Results

Significant linear increases existed for perceived influence from family and school, while significant linear decreases existed for perceived influence from community. The second-order alternative format of the latent growth curve model indicated that associations among individual perceived influence differences could be adequately explained by a higher order physical habitus construct. Gender, personal health condition, family socio-economic status, and weekly time spent on physical activities significantly predicted initial levels of physical habitus, whereas family social economic status significantly predicted the rate of change in physical habitus simultaneously.

Discussion

These findings not only support the participation in sport is constructed socially but also that individual efforts and contextual influences contribute to physical habitus. Furthermore, three types of perceived influences intertwined so much in simultaneity, instead of contributing to physical habitus across time.

Focus areas and methodological characteristics of North American-based health disparity research in sports medicine: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Health disparities are widely prevalent; however, little has been done to examine and address their causes and effects in sports and exercise medicine (SEM). We aimed to summarise the focus areas and methodology used for existing North American health disparity research in SEM and to identify gaps in the evidence base.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Full-text, peer-reviewed manuscripts of primary research, conducted in North America; published in the year 2000 or after, in English; and focusing on organised sports were included.

RESULTS

103 articles met inclusion criteria. Articles were classified into five focus areas: access to and participation in sports (n=45), access to SEM care (n=28), health-related outcomes in SEM (n=24), provider representation in SEM (n=5) and methodology (n=1). Race/ethnicity (n=39), socioeconomic status (n=28) and sex (n=27) were the most studied potential causes of health disparities, whereas sexual orientation (n=5), location (rural/urban/suburban, n=5), education level (n=5), body composition (n=5), gender identity (n=4) and language (n=2) were the least studied. Most articles (n=74) were cross-sectional, conducted on youth (n=55) and originated in the USA (n=90).

CONCLUSION

Health disparity research relevant to SEM in North America is limited. The overall volume and breadth of research required to identify patterns in a heterogeneous sports landscape, which can then be used to inform positive change, need expansion. Intentional research focused on assessing the intersectionality, causes and consequences of health disparities in SEM is necessary.

A leadership-based framework for improving Saudi Arabian female participation in sports

Study purpose

To analyze the relationship between the leadership styles and sports engagement among female sport persons in Saudi Arabia and proposes a framework model for improving Saudi Arabian female participation in sports.

Methods

This study adopted an online cross-sectional survey design for achieving the research aim. Survey instruments included multi-factor leadership questionnaire (MLQ) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). The study participants included adult female sports persons from various sports clubs in Saudi Arabia. A total of 329 responses were received, out of which 35 were incomplete; therefore, a total of 294 responses were considered for the data analysis.

Results

Transformational leadership style was identified to be the most preferred style compared to transactional and laissez-fare leadership styles. Older participants (>25 years) perceived transformational leadership scales including inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration to be more effective (p < 0.05) compared to younger participants. Transformational leadership has strong positive correlation with all engagement scales (as correlation coefficient "r" was greater than 0.7, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Inspirational motivation could be an effective approach in increasing the female participation in Saudi Arabia, as they are mentally unprepared due to the experience of socio-cultural restrictions for decades.

Sports-Related Injuries in Adolescent Athletes: A Systematic Review

Sports participation among adolescents is increasing, offering numerous health benefits and exposing them to the risk of sports-related injuries. This paper aims to understand that the prevalence and risk factors associated with these injuries are crucial for effective injury prevention and the overall well-being of adolescent athletes. This systematic review synthesizes the existing literature on sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes. A comprehensive search was conducted, yielding 11 relevant studies. The studies were analyzed to determine the prevalence of injuries and identify associated risk factors. A qualitative synthesis of the findings was performed. The included studies collectively highlight the significant burden of sports-related injuries among adolescent athletes, with prevalence rates ranging from 34.1% to 65%. Specific risk factors associated with these injuries include body mass index (BMI), physical activity patterns, age, gender, sport type, previous injuries, and training practices. Obese adolescents, those engaged in excessive weekly practice hours, younger athletes, and females were found to be at higher risk. Certain sports, such as soccer and football, exhibited higher injury rates. Sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes are a multifaceted issue influenced by various factors. Tailored injury prevention strategies are essential, considering the specific needs of adolescent athletes in different sports and age groups. Interventions should encompass physical and educational components, emphasizing proper warm-ups, protective equipment use, and injury prevention education. Longitudinal studies and standardized injury reporting systems are needed to monitor injury trends and evaluate prevention strategies effectively. This systematic review contributes to our understanding of sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes and underscores the importance of evidence-based injury prevention efforts.

Exploring the Health Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Program Co-Constructed with Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

University students have low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviors that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, there was poor uptake of university sports activities. Therefore, it is essential to develop and test innovative programs to increase students' motivation to engage in physical activity in order to prevent any future deterioration in their general health.

OBJECTIVE

This exploratory study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a physical activity program that was co-constructed with students.

METHODS

First, a workshop drawing on social design methodologies and the fundamentals of physical activity programs was conducted to assess students' needs and desires in terms of physical activity. Second, the effectiveness of a program co-constructed with students on the basis of this workshop was assessed on physical and mental health parameters. The results showed that the workshop outcomes allowed the physical activity program to be tailored to meet students' expectations (e.g., session duration and type of activities). This innovative physical activity program was found to improve body image, autonomous motivation, and certain physical parameters. At the end of the 8-week program, the adherence rate was 89%, and 83% of the final respondents expressed a wish to re-enroll for the following semester.

CONCLUSIONS

Involving students and considering their wishes, needs, and objectives could facilitate the development of attractive and innovative programs.

Longitudinal weight and body-composition changes in polish undergraduate students of health faculty

Objective: The study investigates the changes in body composition, dietary intake and physical activity of Polish health faculty undergraduates. Methods: 340 university students were measured at the beginning their studies. Subsequent measurements were performed at the beginning of the following academic years. In total, 82 men and 87 women were included in the analysis. The measurements included anthropometric parameters and the amount of consumed nutrients. Using Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire measured students' physical activity. Results: Across three years at university 65.1% of students showed an increase in body mass. Men displayed an increase in body weight (1.6 kg) and waist circumference (4.1 cm). Women's weight changed insignificantly. Participants' energy intake increased statistically significantly after the 1st year and decreased after the 2nd year. In men there was observed decline in energy expenditure between the 1st and 2nd year. Conclusion: Transitory unfavorable changes were observed in students' nutrition and physical activity.

Strategies and best practices that enhance participation in regular physical activities among undergraduate university students: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Physical activity has health benefits, including lowered obesity, diabetes and hypertension levels. However, participation in regular physical activities among undergraduate students is declining and, instead, physical inactivity sets the path for sedentarism. Strategies and best practices used to enhance participation in regular physical activities among undergraduate students are beneficial for mitigating sedentariness and promoting healthy lifestyles. Therefore, this study aims to present a systematic review protocol that focuses on the strategies and best practices used to enhance participation in regular physical activities among undergraduate university students.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods design studies will be included and appraised. The following databases will be searched: PubMed, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, ERIC, Web of Science, SAGE, CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus. Database searches on physical activities among undergraduate university students will be generated to answer the following research question: What are the strategies and best practices used to enhance participation in regular physical activities among undergraduate university students? Two independent reviewers will conduct the primary screening of articles from 2011 to 2022. A third reviewer will be consulted to solve any disagreements. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and study quality will be assessed by the Johanna Biggs Institute checklist. Results from the selected articles will be extracted, summarised and categorised based on the type of study participants, study design and setting, and methodological quality. A narrative description will synthesise the findings to answer the objectives of this review.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval for this study was granted by the Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Western Cape, reference number: HS21/10/24. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation.

Female gender and low physical activity are risk factors for academic stress in incoming nursing students

PURPOSE

Nursing students suffer from stress more frequently than other students. The objective was to analyze the academic stressors that most affect new nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study on new nursing students.

FINDINGS

Two hundred and eighty-two students, 78% women, mean age of 21.46 (6.1) years. Giving presentations in class and lack of time for homework are the items that cause the greatest academic stress. Women had higher levels of academic stress, and higher levels of physical activity are related to lower academic stress.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Women have a higher level of academic stress. Doing sport is a protective factor that diminishes academic stress the more it is practiced. Encouraging nursing students to play sports could be beneficial in reducing their academic stress, with women benefiting the most.

Physical activity in university health science students: Motivations influencing behaviors

Objective: To understand how competence, self-efficacy, enjoyment and motivation relates to physical activity behavior during transition from school to university. Participants: Health science students (n = 558) studying first year biology at an Australian university. Methods: Cross-sectional correlational survey design using five self-report questionnaires to establish relationships between a physical activity index and motivational variables. Results: Self-reported physical activity index scores of satisfactory or above were achieved by 80% of students with scores significantly higher for males than females. Enjoyment, self-efficacy and competence were predictive of physical activity index scores across genders. Conclusions: The physical activity index is a useful measure of activity dimensions across a variety of physical activities. Health science students need to underpin health messages with personal practice in modeling a healthy lifestyle. Universities have a special responsibility for building and supporting physical activity for all students, but especially for future health professionals.

Percepção de barreiras para prática de atividade física em estudantes do curso de educação física

Objetivo: identificar a percepção dos estudantes do curso de educação física, sobre as principais barreiras para prática de atividade física e sua relação com variáveis sociodemográficas. Metodologia: estudo transversal realizado com 1.369 estudantes (876 do sexo masculino; média de idade 24,7±6,5) do curso de educação física de dois centros urbanos do Ceará, Brasil. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas, prática de atividade física (sim ou não) e barreiras percebidas. O teste do Qui-quadrado foi utilizado para associação das variáveis sociodemográficas com as principais barreiras percebidas entre os estudantes que reportaram não praticar atividade física, adotando-se p≤0,05. Resultados: do total, 13,4%, (182 estudantes) não praticavam atividade física. As principais barreiras percebidas para a prática de atividade física foram, tempo dedicado aos estudos (53,5%), jornada de trabalho extensa (49,2%), tarefas domésticas (38,1%), falta de recursos financeiros (36,0%) e compromissos familiares (33,9%). As principais barreiras percebidas estiveram associadas ao trabalho, sendo o tempo dedicado aos estudos (p=0,034) e a jornada de estudos extensa (p=0,001) mais prevalentes entre os estudantes trabalhadores, enquanto que a falta de recursos financeiros (p=0,032) e os compromissos familiares (p=0,014) nos desempregados. Conclusão: o tempo dedicado aos estudos foi a principal barreira percebida. Entre as principais barreiras apenas a tarefa doméstica não esteve associada ao trabalho. Observou-se ainda que as principais barreiras percebidas são de cunho social.

Breaking Down Barriers to Physical Activity in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle changes, including physical activity, are the cornerstones of the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). For unclear reasons, most NAFLD patients do not achieve the recommended amount of weekly activity.

AIMS

Our aim was to measure perceived barriers to physical activity and enablers to exercise intervention.

METHODS

Consecutive subjects aged 18-70 with NAFLD were prospectively enrolled. An exercise motivation questionnaire was administered to assess current behaviors and perceived barriers.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven subjects (60% female) were enrolled with mean age 52 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 34.5 kg/m². Metabolic comorbidities were common: 49% had hyperlipidemia, 42% hypertension, and 40% diabetes. The majority (75%) did not achieve ≥ 150 min/week of physical activity. Ninety-one percent agreed that activity was important in improving NAFLD; 88% desired to be more active. Lack of exercise resources and education from treating provider (47%), physical discomfort during exercise (44%), and time constraints (32%) were the most common barriers. Rates of fitness tracker (34%), gym (33%), exercise program (33%), and personal trainer (17%) use were low.

CONCLUSIONS

While nearly all subjects with NAFLD identify physical activity to be important and desire to be more active, only a few meet activity recommendations. This discordance is due to a perceived lack of resources and education, physical discomfort, and time constraints. Better understanding of these barriers and behaviors are important to improve morbidity and mortality in NAFLD. Future behavioral research removing the identified barriers is of great importance to global public health and should be prioritized.

Predictors of Physical Activity Levels in University Physical Education Implementing Sport Education

By adopting Sport Education into the university context, this study examined how lesson content and teacher interaction contribute to university students' physical activity levels during physical education lessons. Following a continuing professional development workshop, a 10-week Sport Education season was designed collaboratively and implemented at a university, taking into account the university's facilities. This study used the momentary time sampling tool, System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time, in which eight teachers and 202 students (72% male) were videotaped in 156 lessons. The data on physical activity levels, lesson content, and teacher behavior were collected and analyzed. The student-participants engaged in an average of 38.77 (±18.78) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) minutes which did not meet the recommendation of 50% lesson time. Findings of hierarchical linear regression indicated that knowledge (β = 0.29) and general content (β = 0.29) contributed to the sitting physical activity while skill practices (β = 0.25) and gameplay (β = 0.38) predicted the MVPA. Practical implications of utilizing the features of Sport Education in boosting the intensity of activities are discussed, especially team affiliation, formal competition, and record keeping. Further investigations are proposed on the interaction of gameplay content and teacher behavior with larger sample size.

Psychometric Properties of the Exercise Orientation Questionnaire: A Confirmatory Study on Chinese University Students

The Exercise Orientation Questionnaire (EOQ) is a method for evaluating individuals' exercise attitudes and behaviors associated with exercise motivation. A lack of exercise motivation can affect physical activity attitudes, behavior, and action among university students. Physical inactivity may lead to health risks. The purpose of this study was to assess the measurement of psychological properties in the EOQ and to determine the reliability and validity of the EOQ when applied to Chinese university students. A total of 368 university students (male 48.8%) aged between 17 and 23 years (M = 19.60, SD = 1.18) participated in the current study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to verify the factorial validity of the EOQ. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) was used to determine reliability. Multiple regression analysis was used to test concurrent validity. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the participants' level of physical activity. The range of the subscale coefficient was 0.80–0.89, and the total scale was 0.95, which indicated that the reliability of the EOQ was excellent. The research showed that the initial CFA model of the EOQ had poorly fitting indices. The corrected model after seven residual correlations achieved the setting standard, but the correlation coefficient between some factors exceeded the standard threshold, which indicated that the CFA fitting model was not ideal. ESEM is a combination of exploratory and verifiable analytical techniques. Using ESEM and abbreviated version CFA to analyze the data indicated that the model fitted well [ESEM: TLI = 0.97 > 0.90, CFI = 0.96 > 0.90, SRMR = 0.02 < 0.08, and RMSEA = 0.045 < 0.08 (90% CI 0.033–0.055); CFA: TLI = 0.92 > 0.90, CFI = 0.91 > 0.90, SRMR = 0.08, and RMSEA = 0.06 < 0.08 (90% CI 0.055–0.067)]. The results of multiple regression analysis suggested that the ESEM model was effective in distinguishing the differences between individuals with different levels of physical activity (PAL) and body mass index (BMI). Overall, the Chinese abbreviated version of the EOQ (EOQ-CA) was fond to be a reliable tool for monitoring the exercise attitudes and behaviors of Chinese University students.

Changes in Body Composition, Energy Expenditure, and Energy Intake during Four Years of University-A Follow-Up Study

Purpose: The transition to university is often accompanied by the adoption of negative lifestyle habits, which may result in weight and fat gain. While this has been demonstrated during 1st year, little is known about subsequent years. We investigated changes in body composition, energy expenditure, and dietary/energy intake from 1st to 4th year university. Methods: Thirty-eight students (14 males, 24 females) completed a lifestyle questionnaire and had their body mass, fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), and body fat percentage (%BF) measured three times: at the beginning and end of 1st year, and end of 4th year. Results: During 1st year, body mass, fat mass, LBM, and %BF increased (+3.2 ± 3.8 kg, +2.5 ± 3.0 kg, +0.7 ± 2.1 kg, +2.3 ± 4.9%, respectively; p < 0.01), while daily energy intake and expenditure decreased (-359 ± 1019 kcal·d-1 and -434 ± 786 kcal·d-1, respectively; p < 0.01). Between the end of 1st year and end of 4th year, body mass, LBM, and energy expenditure increased (+3.2 ± 3.8 kg, +1.3 ± 2.9 kg, +209 ± 703 kcal·d-1, respectively; p ≤ 0.05), while %BF, fat mass, and energy intake did not change. Conclusions: Although %BF and fat mass remained stable from the end of 1st year to the end of 4th year in this group of university students, the positive increase in energy expenditure was not enough to reverse the weight and fat gained during 1st year.

Independent and Combined Associations of Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Activity Intensities With Perceived Stress Among University Students: Internet-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Mental health is an emerging topic on university campuses, with students reporting higher levels of psychological distress than the general population of the same age. Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time have been proved promising measures to promote mental health in the general population. However, to derive and implement effective measures to promote mental health among university students, further exploration of the associations between physical activity, sedentary time, and perceived stress in this specific setting is needed.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify associations between physical activity, sedentary time, and perceived stress after controlling for sociodemographic and behavioral variables among university students in Germany. We hypothesize that perceived stress is inversely related to physical activity and positively associated with sedentary time. Furthermore, we hypothesize that combined associations of concurrently high physical activity and low sedentary time on perceived stress are stronger compared with either alone and that the association between physical activity and perceived stress depends on activity intensity.

METHODS

We conducted cross-sectional analyses from a large-scale internet-based student health survey (n=4189; response rate=10.0%). Physical activity, sedentary time, and engaging in moderate and vigorous activity intensities were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form with categorization into low, intermediate, and high levels. We measured perceived stress using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (range 0-40).

RESULTS

The results indicate that higher physical activity and lower sedentary time are associated with reduced levels of perceived stress. Following adjustment for gender, BMI, income, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and sleep quality, perceived stress scores were lower for students reporting high physical activity levels and low sedentary time compared with the least active and highly sedentary students (Perceived Stress Scale -2.2, 95% CI -2.9 to -1.5, P<.001 for physical activity and -1.1, CI 95% -1.7 to -0.5, P<.001 for sedentary time). Combined associations with perceived stress revealed that students concurrently reporting high total physical activity and low sedentary time reported the lowest perceived stress scores of all possible combinations following adjustment for confounders (Perceived Stress Scale -3.5, CI 95% -4.6 to -2.5, P<.001 compared with students reporting low physical activity levels and concurrently high sedentary time). Associations between vigorous physical activities and perceived stress were not stronger compared with moderate activity intensities.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported physical activity and low sedentary time are favorably associated with perceived stress, while the intensity of physical activities seems to be of minor importance. These results help to effectively implement health-promoting measures on campus among university students through increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time.

Successful promotion of physical activity among students of medicine through motivational interview and Web-based intervention

Background

Regular physical activity supports healthy behavior and contributes to the reduction of preventable diseases. Students in their social transition period are the ideal groups for interventions. The higher education period, associated with demanding changes and poor time management, results in a low level of physical activity. In this age, social media usually are a suitable channel of communication and multicomponent interventions are the most desirable. It has not been sufficiently investigated how effective a Web-based approach is among university students when it comes to physical activity in the long-term period. We combined a Web-based approach with motivational interviews and tested these two interventions together and separate to assess their impact on improving the physical activity of medical students 1 year after the intervention.

Methods

All 514 first-year students at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade were invited to fill in a baseline questionnaire. Also, they underwent measurement of weight, height and waist circumference. After that, students selected a 6 months intervention according to their preference: Intervention through social media (Facebook) (Group 1) or combined with a motivational interview (Group 2). Group 3 consisted of students without any intervention. One year after completion of the 6 months intervention period, all students were invited to a second comprehensive assessment. Analyses were performed employing a wide range of statistical testing, including direct logistic regression, to identify determinants of increased physical activity measured by an average change of Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET). This outcome measure was defined as the difference between the values at baseline and one year after completion of the 6 months intervention period.

Results

Due to a large number of potential determinants of the change of MET, three logistic regression models considered three groups of independent variables: basic socio-demographic and anthropometric data, intervention and willingness for change, and health status with life choices. The only significant model comprised parameters related to the interventions (p < 0.001). It accurately classified 73.5% of cases. There is a highly significant overall effect for type of intervention (Wald = 19.5, df = 2, p < 0.001) with high odds for the increase of physical activity. Significant relationship between time and type of intervention also existed (F = 7.33, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.091). The influence of both factors (time and interventions) led to a change (increase) in the dependent variable MET.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed the presence of low-level physical activity among students of medicine and showed that multicomponent interventions have significant potential for positive change. The desirable effects of the Web-based intervention are higher if an additional booster is involved, such as a motivational interview.

First-year university is associated with greater body weight, body composition and adverse dietary changes in males than females

Background

The transition from high school to university life is a critical time for change, often accompanied by the adoption of negative lifestyle habits including unhealthy nutrition. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify sex-specific changes in dietary intake and diet quality, and associated changes in body weight and composition during first-year university.

Methods

Three-hundred and one students (n = 229 females) completed food frequency questionnaires, and had their body weight, body composition, waist and hip circumference measured at the beginning and end of first-year university. Repeated-measures ANOVAs with covariate adjustments were used with variables for sex (between group) and time (within group) to assess these changes.

Results

Students gained body weight and fat during the year (p<0.001). Body mass Index (BMI) also significantly increased (p = 0.032). Males gained more weight (Male:3.8 kg; Female:1.8 kg), fat mass (Male:2.7 kg; Female:1.5 kg), lean mass (Male:1.1 kg; Female:0.3 kg) and BMI (Male:1.2 kg/m²; Female:0.7 kg/m²; p≤0.001 for interactions), and had greater increases in waist circumference (Male:2.7 cm; Female:1.1 cm) and waist:hip ratio (Male:0.02; Female:0.004; p<0.05 for interactions) than females. Energy intake remained the same over the year in both sexes, accompanied by an increase in alcohol (ethanol) in both sexes but more so in males than females (p = 0.011 interaction). Diet quality decreased, characterized by a reduced intake of healthy foods/beverages (p<0.05) in both sexes such as yogurt, cheese, oatmeal, breads, rice, pasta, vegetables, green salad, fruits, steak, fish, nuts and milk, and an increased consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages (p<0.05) such as donuts/cakes, fried chicken, beer and liquor. Significant interactions between sexes indicated that males displayed a more adverse and lower quality eating pattern which included greater intakes of donuts/cakes, fried chicken, beer and liquor, as well as decreased intakes of eggs and vegetables compared to females. Lastly, some dietary intake changes significantly correlated with fat mass and waist circumference change indicating that poor dietary choices were associated with increased adiposity.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that during first-year university, both male and female students undergo unfavorable changes in nutrition and body weight/composition that significantly differ between sexes, with males showing more adverse changes. Our results can be used to inform effective sex-specific strategies and interventions to improve dietary habits during the transition to university life.