Weight Gain in First-year University Students

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 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. First aim: 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. Second aim: To examine changes in weight, living arrangements, dietary intake, physical activity, sleep and stress after one year at university with previous participation students who moved to their second year to understand the influence that university life has on these trends compared to their first visit at the beginning of their first year at the university.

Detailed Description:

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.

Aim1 "Transition to university study" During each academic year, I will conduct three visits with participants: At the beginning of the academic year in late September/October (Visit 1), after 3 months in January (Visit 2), and after 8 months at the end of the academic year in mid-April/May (Visit 3).

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.

Aim 2 "Follow-up study" I will conduct one visit with previous participating students in the study 1: in September/October year, after one year at the university (Visit 4).

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 30 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).
4. Sleep patterns will be examined by ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometer (placed on the waist) to assess their total awake duration (min), total sleep duration(min), bedtime (hh:mm), and wake time (hh:mm).
5. Stress: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire.
6. Socio-demographic characteristics: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire.
7. Changes in lifestyle behaviours: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire.

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.