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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
06:48
Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Body composition changes during the first two years of university
Sareen S Gropper1, Anna Newton, Paul Harrington
1Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, 101 Poultry Science Bldg., Auburn University, AL 36849, USA. groppss@auburn.edu
Preventive Medicine
|November 12, 2010
Summary
College students gained weight and body fat between freshman and sophomore years. Females experienced greater increases in body fat and decreases in fat-free mass, indicating potential health risks.
Area of Science:
- Human Physiology
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- College students often experience significant body composition changes during their academic careers.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for developing targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in body weight, composition, and shape in college students from freshman to sophomore year.
- To identify potential gender-specific differences in these changes.
Main Methods:
- Assessed weight, BMI, body fat (percent and absolute), fat-free mass, and waist circumference in 120 college students.
- Utilized bioelectrical impedance for body composition and body scans for waist circumference.
- Data collected over the freshman and sophomore academic years (2007-2009).
Main Results:
- Weight and BMI gains were similar between freshman and sophomore years.
- Significantly more body fat was gained during the freshman year compared to the sophomore year.
- Females lost more fat-free mass during the freshman year; increases in overweight classifications and unhealthy body fat/waist measurements were observed in females.
Conclusions:
- The sophomore year showed slightly healthier body composition changes than the freshman year.
- However, overall gains in weight, fat mass, and waist circumference suggest elevated health risks, particularly for college females.
- Interventions may be needed to mitigate negative body composition trends in this demographic.
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