Impact of exercise changes on body composition during the college years--a five year randomized controlled study

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Human Biology

Background:

• College years are associated with significant weight gain.
• Limited data exists on the impact of these changes on body composition.
• This study investigated the effects of exercise alterations on body composition over five years of university study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of changes in exercise habits on body composition in university students.
• To compare body composition changes between dental and sport science students.
• To assess the relationship between exercise volume/intensity and changes in body mass, lean body mass, and fat mass.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study tracking 61 dental (DES) and 53 sport (SPS) students over five years.
• Body composition assessed using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and follow-up.
• Confounding factors like nutrition and health status were monitored every two years.

Main Results:

• Exercise volume decreased by 33% in DES students and increased in SPS students.
• Both groups gained body mass, but DES students showed a 2:1 ratio of fat mass to lean body mass gain, while SPS students gained primarily lean body mass.
• Maximum aerobic capacity significantly decreased in DES students and increased in SPS students.

Conclusions:

• Decreased exercise volume and intensity negatively affect body fatness and fitness in young college students.
• The findings highlight the detrimental effects of reduced physical activity during higher education.
• Interventions promoting consistent exercise are crucial for maintaining healthy body composition and fitness in students.