Body composition of students over a 15 year period
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Longitudinal 15 year study of body composition changes in Scottish students.
IRAS ID
114700
Contact name
Nidia Rodriguez-Sanchez
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The increased incidence of obesity in young adults leads to an increase in metabolic factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In combination with the increase in obesity rates, people living more sedentary lifestyles also contribute to the increasing rise in type 2 diabetes. For most young individuals, attending University is an important time of transition into independence and in this regard physical activity and nutritional habits are established during this time. It is common that students, both male and female, experience increases in body weight during their time at University. A recent long term study of US students reported increased body fatness and decreased fitness in college students. These data mentioned above monitored body composition on an individual basis. To our knowledge, to date no data has been collected on a population basis to examine trends in body composition in a local student population over an extended (i.e., 15 year) period of time.
Volunteers will be recruited from the University of Stirling student population. Males and female individuals will be recruited from the student population aged between 18-40 years old. Each year, we propose to recruit 120 students to measure body composition using a combination of skinfold measurments, body mass index and Dual energy xray absorptiometry (DXA scan). Participants also will complete a food frequency questionnaire, physical activity questionnaire and behaviour change questionnaire.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
12/WS/0240
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion