Fighting the Freshman Fifteen: Sleep, Exercise, and BMI in College Students

2020 ◽  
pp. 089011712096906
Author(s):  
June J. Pilcher ◽  
Dylan N. Erikson ◽  
Carolyn A. Yochum
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
College Students ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Quality Factor ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Factor Score ◽  
Sleep Efficiency ◽  
Healthy Weight

Purpose: To examine how sleep and physical activity predict body mass index (BMI) in college students. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Medium-sized public university in the Southeastern United States. Subjects: 386 undergraduate students (245 females; 18-25 years). Measures: Surveys included the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Concise Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ). PSQI provided 5 sleep scores: PSQI Global Score, Sleep Quality Factor Score, Sleep Efficiency Factor Score, Sleep Duration, and Habitual Sleep Efficiency. Height and weight measurements were taken to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Analysis: Correlational analyses were completed first. Linear and moderation regression models using CPAQ as the moderator were used to predict BMI. The Johnson-Neyman technique determined regions of significance where sleep significantly predicted BMI dependent on CPAQ score. Results: Sleep Duration significantly predicted BMI ( β = -.385, p = .043) while significant interaction terms predicting BMI were found for Global PSQI ScoreXCPAQ ( β = -.103, p = .015) and Sleep Quality Factor ScoreXCPAQ ( β = -.233, p = .013). Johnson-Neyman analyses demonstrated that better sleep quality (measured by Global PSQI and Sleep Quality Factor Scores) predict lower BMI when exercise levels are low and higher BMI when exercise levels are high. Conclusion: At low levels of exercise, better sleep quality significantly predicts lower BMI, suggesting that interventions designed to increase sleep quality could promote healthy weight maintenance in college students.

scholarly journals Relationships between College Students’ Sedentary Behavior, Sleep Quality, and Body Mass Index

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3946
Author(s):  
Wenxi Liu ◽  
Qin Yuan ◽  
Nan Zeng ◽  
Daniel J. McDonough ◽  
Kun Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Sleep Efficiency ◽  
South Central ◽  
Activity Promotion

Purpose: Sedentary behavior (SB), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep duration (SD), and body mass index (BMI) are crucial determinants of an individual’s health. However, empirical evidence regarding associations between these factors in young adults living in China remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between accelerometer-measured SB, SE, SD, and BMI in Chinese college students. Methods: Two-hundred and twenty college students (115 females, Meanage = 20.29 years, SD = 2.37) were recruited from a south-central Chinese university. Participants’ SB (daily % time spent in SB), SE (number of minutes of sleep duration/number of minutes in bed), and SD were assessed via wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers for one week. Body weight was measured using a digital weight scale, height was measured using a stadiometer, and BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2). Results: Participants’ average time spent in SB was 76.52% (SD = 10.03), SE was 84.12% (SD = 4.79), and BMI was 20.67 kg/m2 (SD = 3.12), respectively. Regression analyses indicated that SB (β = −0.17, p = 0.01) and BMI (β = −0.20, p < 0.01) negatively predicted SE. In addition, BMI negatively predicted SD (β = −0.22, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Prolonged SB (e.g., screen viewing, smartphone use, and computer playing) and higher BMI may link to shorter sleep duration and lower sleep efficiency in Chinese young adults. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to further confirm these findings. Given that increased BMI status and SB may relate to adverse health outcomes, more population-based intervention strategies seeking to lower BMI and reduce SB (e.g., nutrition education and physical activity promotion) are needed in this population.

scholarly journals Effect of Children’s Weight Status on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior during Physical Education, Recess, and After School

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2651
Author(s):  
Zachary C. Pope ◽  
Charles Huang ◽  
David Stodden ◽  
Daniel J. McDonough ◽  
Zan Gao
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
After School ◽  
Healthy Weight

Children’s body mass index may affect physical activity (PA) participation. Therefore, this study examined the effect of children’s weight status on underserved elementary school children’s PA and sedentary behavior (SB) throughout the segmented day. Participants were 138 children (X¯age = 8.14 years). Children’s height and weight were measured with subsequent classification of children as healthy weight or overweight/obese. Durations of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), and SB during physical education (PE), morning recess, lunch recess, after school, and overall were assessed via accelerometry over three days. Independent t-tests evaluated differences in children’s MVPA, LPA, and SB during each daily segment by weight status. Significantly higher MVPA was observed for children of healthy weight status versus children with overweight/obesity during morning recess, t(136) = 2.15, p = 0.03, after school, t(136) = 2.68, p < 0.01, and overall, t(136) = 2.65, p < 0.01. Interestingly, comparisons of children of healthy weight status and children with overweight/obesity’s LPA and SB during the after-school segment revealed a trend wherein children with overweight/obesity participated in slightly greater LPA/less SB than children of healthy weight status. Higher MVPA was observed among children of healthy weight versus children with overweight/obesity during most daily segments. Concerted efforts should focus on increasing MVPA among children with overweight/obesity.

scholarly journals Delayed Lactogenesis II is Associated With Lower Sleep Efficiency and Greater Variation in Nightly Sleep Duration in the Third Trimester

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-724
Author(s):  
Theresa Casey ◽  
Hui Sun ◽  
Helen J. Burgess ◽  
Jennifer Crodian ◽  
Shelley Dowden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Sleep Efficiency ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
Wrist Actigraphy

Background: Metabolic and hormonal disturbances are associated with sleep disturbances and delayed onset of lactogenesis II. Research aims: The aim of this study was to measure sleep using wrist actigraphy during gestation weeks 22 and 32 to determine if sleep characteristics were associated with blood glucose, body mass index, gestational related disease, delayed onset of lactogenesis II, or work schedule. Methods: Demographic data were collected at study intake from primiparous women who wore a wrist actigraph during gestation weeks 22 ( n = 50) and 32 ( n = 44). Start and end sleep time, total nighttime sleep, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep fragmentation were measured. Night to night variability was assessed with the root mean square of successive difference. Blood glucose levels, body mass index, and gestational disease data were abstracted from medical charts. Timing of lactogenesis II was determined by survey. Results: Between gestation week 22 and 32, sleep efficiency decreased and fragmentation increased ( p < .05). During gestation week 32, blood glucose was negatively correlated with sleep duration, and positively related to fragmentation ( p < .05). Women who experienced delayed lactogenesis II had lower sleep efficiency and greater fragmentation ( p < .05), and greater night-to-night variability in sleep start and end time, efficiency, and duration during gestation week 32 ( p < .05). Conclusion: Women with better sleep efficiency and more stable nightly sleep time are less likely to experience delayed onset of lactogenesis II. Interventions to improve sleep may improve maternal health and breastfeeding adequacy.

Path Analysis of Campus Walkability/Bikeability and College Students’ Physical Activity Attitudes, Behaviors, and Body Mass Index

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya M. Horacek ◽  
E. Dede Yildirim ◽  
K. Kattelmann ◽  
O. Brown ◽  
C. Byrd-Bredbenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
College Students ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Path Analysis ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the walkability/bikeability of college campuses and students’ body mass index (BMI) with student physical activity (PA) attitudes and behaviors as potential mediators. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Thirteen university campuses. Participants: A total of 1384 student participants. Measures: Walkability/bikeability environmental score (ES): 12-item audit assessed an average of 44 path segments per campus. Students were measured for height and weight and completed online surveys. Physical activity stage of change/behavior intentions were assessed using the transtheoretical model. The Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed outcome expectations, self-regulation, and personal barriers. International Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed walking-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity PA. Analysis: Descriptive statistics, zero-order correlations, and path analysis with maximum likelihood estimation. Results: The overall model fit was good with χ2 of 171.388 ( df = 18), P < .001, comparative fit index value of .95, and a root mean square of approximation of .079. After controlling for gender, there was a direct negative association between walkability/bikeability ES and BMI (β = −.085) and positive association between personal barriers and BMI (β = .134). Walkability/bikeability ES was positively associated with walking-intensity PA (β = .010). Self-regulation was positively associated with moderate-intensity PA (β = .213), which, in turn, was negatively associated with BMI (β = −.057). Conclusions: The ease of walking and biking on a campus was related to college students’ walking behavior and their BMI. Students’ PA behavioral intentions were associated with moderate PA and lower BMI. These results provide evidence to focus on policies and structural supports for walkable/bikeable environments to supplement and enhance interventions encouraging individual behavior change for PA and weight management.

scholarly journals Healthy Weight Services in England before, during and after pregnancy: a mixed methods approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frankie Fair ◽  
Katie Marvin-Dowle ◽  
Madelynne Arden ◽  
Hora Soltani
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
National Guidance

Abstract Background: Maternal overweight and obesity are associated with numerous adverse outcomes including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Overweight and obesity before, during and after pregnancy are therefore a significant public health priority in England. This project explored and mapped healthy weight service availability at different stages of the childbearing cycle.Methods: A mixed methods approach included a questionnaire-based survey disseminated through Local Maternity Systems and semi-structured interviews or focus groups with providers and commissioners. Current maternal weight service provision was explored along with some of the barriers and facilitators for providing, delivering and accessing healthy weight services. Descriptive statistics were reported for quantitative data and content analysis was used for thematic reporting of qualitative data. Results: A total of 88 participants responded to the survey. All services were offered most frequently during pregnancy; with healthy eating and/or weight management services offered more often than physical activity services. Few services were targeted specifically at women with a raised body mass index. There was a high degree of inconsistency of service provision in different geographical areas. Several themes were identified from qualitative data including "equity and variation in service provision", "need for rigorous evaluation", "facilitators” to encourage better access or more effective service provision, including prioritisation, a change in focus and co-design of services, "barriers" encountered including financial and time obstacles, poor communication and insufficiently clear strategic national guidance and "the need for additional support”.Conclusions: There is a need to reduce geographical variation in services and the potential health inequalities that this may cause. Improving services for women with a raised body mass index as well as services which encourage physical activity require additional emphasis. There is a need for more robust evaluation of services to ensure they are fit for purpose. An urgent need for clear national guidance so that healthcare providers can more effectively assist mothers achieve a healthy weight gain was identified. Commissioners should consider implementing strategies to reduce the barriers of access identified such as childcare, transport, location and making services free at the point of use.

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