Abstract
Obesity and high body fat percentages are a major public health issue. The percentage of obese and overweight Americans has
increased over the past 30 years. On average, overweight individuals with higher percent body fat than normal weight individuals
are at increased risk for numerous negative outcomes both physically and mentally. A prime time to investigate changes in
body composition and associated psychological influences on decision making is during the emerging adulthood period. The first
few years of college are a time when adolescents begin to regulate for themselves their own eating behaviors. Previous research
shows that freshmen gain weight and increase in percent body fat during their first year of college. The current study addresses
the limitations of previous research by investigating (1) individual growth in percent body fat over a longer period of time
in college than previous available research and (2) important psychological and sex differences in this growth. This study
measures percent body fat across the first 3 years of college at 8 time points for 542 undergraduates (351 females, 65 %;
191 males, 35 %). Longitudinal data analysis was conducted to identify changes in percent body fat, psychological predictors
of those changes, and how changes differ for males and females. Our study found that significant increases exist in percent
body fat during undergraduates’ college years and that change differs for males and females. In addition, through the use
of nested hierarchical models, eating regulation style (autonomous or controlled regulation), appearance schema (self-evaluative
salience or motivational salience), and body satisfaction were identified as influential predictors of change in percent body
fat. For example, young females, who do not feel in control of their physical appearance yet spend a great deal of time maintaining
their appearance, have the highest initial body fat percentage and the steepest increase in percent body fat. Overall, males
and females with high autonomous regulation and high motivational salience are likely to maintain (instead of increase) percent
body fat over the college years. Knowing the influence of these predictors can be useful for promoting health and intervening
with young adults in the college setting and other emerging adults who are not enrolled in postsecondary institutions.
increased over the past 30 years. On average, overweight individuals with higher percent body fat than normal weight individuals
are at increased risk for numerous negative outcomes both physically and mentally. A prime time to investigate changes in
body composition and associated psychological influences on decision making is during the emerging adulthood period. The first
few years of college are a time when adolescents begin to regulate for themselves their own eating behaviors. Previous research
shows that freshmen gain weight and increase in percent body fat during their first year of college. The current study addresses
the limitations of previous research by investigating (1) individual growth in percent body fat over a longer period of time
in college than previous available research and (2) important psychological and sex differences in this growth. This study
measures percent body fat across the first 3 years of college at 8 time points for 542 undergraduates (351 females, 65 %;
191 males, 35 %). Longitudinal data analysis was conducted to identify changes in percent body fat, psychological predictors
of those changes, and how changes differ for males and females. Our study found that significant increases exist in percent
body fat during undergraduates’ college years and that change differs for males and females. In addition, through the use
of nested hierarchical models, eating regulation style (autonomous or controlled regulation), appearance schema (self-evaluative
salience or motivational salience), and body satisfaction were identified as influential predictors of change in percent body
fat. For example, young females, who do not feel in control of their physical appearance yet spend a great deal of time maintaining
their appearance, have the highest initial body fat percentage and the steepest increase in percent body fat. Overall, males
and females with high autonomous regulation and high motivational salience are likely to maintain (instead of increase) percent
body fat over the college years. Knowing the influence of these predictors can be useful for promoting health and intervening
with young adults in the college setting and other emerging adults who are not enrolled in postsecondary institutions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9757-8
- Authors
- Ali Zaremba Morgan, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Margaret K. Keiley, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Aubrey E. Ryan, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Juliana Groves Radomski, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Sareen S. Gropper, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Lenda Jo Connell, Department of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Karla P. Simmons, Department of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Pamela V. Ulrich, Department of Consumer Affairs, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891