Factors Contributing to Weight Gain Among College Freshman and Beyond
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Factors Contributing To Weight Gain Among College Freshman And Beyond Item Type Thesis Authors Chipp, Cody L. Download date 29/09/2021 21:04:58 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9119 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WEIGHT GAIN AMONG COLLEGE FRESHMEN AND BEYOND By Cody L. Chipp RECOMMENDED: Jesse Metzger, Ph.D. ^—"-"CfiHstiane Brems, PhdTTAdvisory Committee Chair Jamgs M. FitterlirfgCPh.D., UAA Program Director PhD Program in Clinical-Community Psychology JaSon L. Whipple, Ph.D., UAF Program Director PhD Program in Clinical-Community Psychology APPROVED: Petrjafis, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences Helena "STwisniewski, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies Dean, UAA Graduate School Lawrence K. Duffy, Ph.D. Dean, UAF Graduate School Date FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WEIGHT GAIN AMONG COLLEGE FRESHMEN AND BEYOND A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Cody L. Chipp, M.S. Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska May 2012 UMI Number: 3528862 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI 3528862 Published by ProQuest LLC 2012. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract Background Linked with a higher risk of life threatening illnesses, obesity in the United States has become an epidemic, with a prevalence rate of overweight and obese adults of nearly 68%. Obesity rates have accelerated over the past two decades and one crucial developmental period for weight gain is among emerging adults attending college. Using an explanatory mixed-method design, this study examined contributing factors to weight gain among college students, including eliciting university stakeholders’ perceptions of supports and barriers to exercising and healthy eating among students. Method Data collection for the quantitative phase of the study consisted of two waves, baseline and 2-year follow-up. Students completed psychosocial and anthropometric measures (height, weight, and body fat percentage). Data collected for the qualitative phase of the study consisted of key informant interviews with university administrators («=15) and seven student focus groups («=34 students). Qualitative analyses were conducted with NVivo software and multiple coders, using a grounded theory approach to elicit major themes. Results Students gained 1.51bs (p>.05), with 34% of participants gaining over 5 lbs and 17% over 10 lbs. Participants who gained weight were men, ate more calories from sweets or desserts, and consumed fewer calories from fats. Increase in calories from desserts or sweets increased odds of weight gain (OR=l .075, CI=1.01-1.14) and body fat (OR= 1.106, CI= 1.036-1.181). Contextualizing the quantitative findings, students and administrators identified several themes that support healthy living, including access to nutritious food and physical amenities. Both groups also identified barriers, including easy access to high-calorie foods, limited recreation facilities, and policy challenges. Administrators spoke of extant health promotion efforts; however, students did not perceive active health promotion initiatives on campus. Conclusions Dietary habits were identified drivers of weight gain among students. Extant campus supports and barriers to exercise and healthy eating among students were equally identified by students and administrators with great reliability. Implications for future health promotion efforts, food availability, recreation, and physical amenities are discussed in the context of clears sets of recommendations for stakeholder groups. Future research should explore specific dietary foods that are increasing weight and develop targeted preventions/interventions for individuals at risk. V Table of Contents Page Signature Page ............................................................................................................................i Title Page ...................................................................................................................................ii Abstract..................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... xii List of Appendices .................................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................xiv Chapter One: Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Brief Overview of the Study .................................................................................................1 Behavioral Considerations ................................................................................................... 2 Psychological Considerations .............................................................................................. 3 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................5 Study Purpose and Design ................................................................................................... 6 Problem Statement of the Study ..........................................................................................9 Chapter Two: Review of the Literature .................................................................................10 Definitions of Obesity and Overweight .............................................................................10 Health and Economic Burdens of High Overweight and Obesity Rates ........................12 Critical Periods for Weight Gain and Prevention Efforts ................................................ 14 Factors Contributing to College-Age Weight Gain ..........................................................16 Behavioral Components of Weight Gain ...........................................................................16 Nutrition ...........................................................................................................................17 Physical activity ..............................................................................................................20 Psychological Components of Weight Gain .....................................................................23 Transtheoretical model .................................................................................................. 23 Self-efficacy .................................................................................................................... 26 Current Limitations in Literature .......................................................................................27 vi Page Conclusion and Study Aims ............................................................................................... 28 Chapter Three: Research Design and Methodology ............................................................ 30 Overarching Study Design ................................................................................................. 30 Phase I - Quantitative Analysis of Longitudinal-Archival Data .................................... 30 Participants ...........................................................................................................................31 Baseline participants ...................................................................................................... 31 Two-year follow-up participants ...................................................................................32 Measures..............................................................................................................................33 Anthropometric measurements ......................................................................................33 Physical activity measurement ......................................................................................33 Nutritional intake measurement .....................................................................................34 Stage-of-change measurement .......................................................................................35 Self-efficacy measurement ............................................................................................ 36 Procedures ............................................................................................................................36 Human subject protection .............................................................................................