Background/Purpose Research on college student weight gain identified “freshmen 15” phenomenon and many of its contributors (Holm et al., 2008). However, longitudinal studies monitoring student weight and BMI changes are rare. This study examined Chinese students' weight and BMI changes through the first three years of college.
Method The participants (N=1,740) including 61.6% females, and were predominantly Han Chinese (with .8% minorities) from a southeastern province. The university provided weekly 90-minute physical activity classes for all students. Students' weight and height were measured yearly by the physical educators in April, they were 18.10±.73 years old at their freshman year. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).
Analysis/Results Overall, students' weight and BMI were relatively stable over the first three years of college. Results of MANOVA, however, showed significantly different weight and BMI change patterns between males and females. Males had significantly higher weight and BMI in their first year than their second and third years (p<.05); although the third year were slightly higher than the second year (p>.05). Females had significantly higher weight and BMI in their third year than the second, with the second significantly higher than the first year (p<.05).
Conclusions The data complemented the current studies in college students (Crombie et al., 2009). The pattern of Chinese college males' weight change might be consistent with the counterpart of the United States for the first year (Recette et al., 2005). Females' body weight and BMI were alarming as they continually increased every year.