Boyce Jessica A, Kuijer Roeline G
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Physiol Behav. 2015 Feb;139:491-6. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.011. Epub 2014 Dec 4.
The transition from high-school to university is a critical period of weight change. Popular media suggest that freshman students gain 15 lb (6.80 kg) of body weight during their first year at university (i.e., the freshman 15). In contrast, a recent meta-analysis calculated freshman weight gain to be 1.75 kg, with statistics suggesting that only a proportion of freshman students are prone to gain weight. Researchers are beginning to investigate how certain variables and interactions between such variables predict freshman weight status. The current study focused on body mass index (BMI) and psychological stress. In isolation, previous research has tested how these two variables predict freshman student's weight status. However, because BMI and stress interact to predict weight gain and weight loss in adult samples, the current study tested the interaction between student's baseline BMI and baseline stress levels to predict weight change in a New Zealand sample of freshman students (N=65). Participants completed two separate online surveys in March and October 2012 (i.e., New Zealand's academic year). Although only three students gained over 6.80 kg (i.e., the freshman 15), participants did gain a statistically significant 1.10 kg of body weight during the year. Consistent with previous research, students with a higher baseline BMI gained a higher amount of body weight. However, this main effect was qualified by an interaction between stress and BMI. Students who entered university with high levels of stress gained weight if they also had high BMIs; if they had lower BMIs then they lost weight. In order to reduce unhealthy levels of freshman weight change, vulnerable students need to be taught stress-reduction techniques and coping strategies early in the academic year.
从高中到大学的过渡是体重变化的关键时期。大众媒体称，大一新生在大学第一年体重会增加15磅（6.80千克）（即所谓的“新生15磅”）。相比之下，最近的一项荟萃分析计算出大一新生的体重增加量为1.75千克，有统计数据表明只有一部分大一学生容易体重增加。研究人员开始探究某些变量以及这些变量之间的相互作用如何预测大一学生的体重状况。当前的研究聚焦于体重指数（BMI）和心理压力。此前已有研究分别检验过这两个变量如何预测大一学生的体重状况。然而，由于在成人样本中BMI和压力相互作用来预测体重增加和减轻，因此当前研究检验了学生的基线BMI与基线压力水平之间的相互作用，以预测新西兰大一学生样本（N = 65）的体重变化。参与者在2012年3月和10月（即新西兰学年）完成了两项独立的在线调查。尽管只有三名学生体重增加超过6.80千克（即“新生15磅”），但参与者在这一年里体重确实有统计学意义上的显著增加，增加了1.10千克。与之前的研究一致，基线BMI较高的学生体重增加量更大。然而，但压力和BMI之间的相互作用对这一主要效应产生了影响。压力水平高的学生如果BMI也高，那么他们体重增加；如果BMI较低，那么他们体重减轻。为了减少大一学生不健康的体重变化，需要在学年早期就向易受影响的学生传授减压技巧和应对策略。
