Activity levels predicted for first year college students

College freshmen traditionally collect a lot of new friends, troubling debt loads and, often, a few extra pounds. Two recent studies examine factors that indicate which students are likely to maintain higher levels of physical activity, leading to better overall health and quality of life. Both sets of research were presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Predictors of activity levels vary. In the first study, race and high-school sports participation predicted which girls would be physically active one year after graduation. The investigation of 258 African-American and Caucasian girls found significant differences in which factors predicted activity levels in the two groups.

Among African-Americans, the significant predictive factor was whether they played sports in high school. Caucasian girls were more physically active post-graduation and had other predictors including intentions to remain active after high school; 12th-grade Body Mass Index (BMI) and self-efficacy for physical activity (confidence that they could be active).

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted at the Arnold School of Public Health of the University of South Carolina, involved girls from 22 high schools throughout South Carolina. Approximately equal numbers of African-American and Caucasian girls participated, and the sample included a diverse mix of girls from urban, suburban and rural high schools.

“We were surprised at the differences in predictors among white and African-American girls,” said Jennifer O'Neill, lead author of the study. “Sports participation was a predictor only for African-Americans, and participation in classes such as dance class wasn't a predictor.” O'Neill called for more study into how to expand opportunities for physical activity in high school. “Girls' activity levels are lower than boys', and they decrease faster as girls mature. We need to find ways to encourage girls to be active in high school, so they'll be more likely to enjoy the benefits of physical activity throughout their lives.” O'Neill noted that research indicates boys and girls prefer different activities. Like boys, many girls enjoy team sports, but girls overall tend to favor activities that are less competitive and more cooperative.

Another study explored differences in activity levels among freshmen who had played varsity sports as high school seniors. Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were surprised that former athletes logged so much more leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) than non-athletes. Former athletes burned more than twice as many calories per week in leisure time when compared to those without a history of varsity sports participation.

“Both groups walked about the same amount-11,000 or so steps a day-which may be expected, as everybody walks or rides on a college campus. There was a striking difference, though, in average non-transportation, leisure-time physical activity: 1,432 minutes a week for athletes compared with 657 minutes for non-athletes,” said Tracy Swibas, lead author.

Athletes' body composition also differed significantly from that of non-athletes. Body fat for the two groups averaged 22.0 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively. There were no significant differences in other variables, such as height, weight, BMI, hip circumference or waist circumference.

Swibas' team is now analyzing data taken at the end of the participants' freshman year, which could prove revealing. They will look for correlations between former athletic involvement and changes in body composition to determine if those who are highly active in high school but discontinue sports involvement following graduation are especially susceptible to the dreaded “freshman fifteen.”

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.