TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health

Patterns and Composition of Weight Change in First-Semester Freshmen at a MidwesternUniversity

Author(s): M. Ludy1, R.J. Leone1, A.L. Morgan2; 1School of Family and Consumer Sciences,Bowling Green State Univ., Bowling Green, OH, 2School of Human Movement, Sport, andLeisure Studies, Bowling Green State Univ., Bowling Green, OH

Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify similarities and differences inweight change between male and female first-semester college freshmen.

Background: The transition to college is a vulnerable period for weight change. Unwantedweight gain (e.g., the “freshman 15”) is widely touted by the popular press, while smallergains are supported by the scientific literature. It is unclear whether weight gain occurssteadily and is limited to fat mass. The purpose of this observational study was to assessthe patterns and composition of weight change in first-semester freshmen.

Methods: Freshmen (n¼14 male, 59 female; age 18.1�0.4 years; 83.6% Caucasian) residingon campus were recruited via public advertisements posted on campus and online.Anthropometric (weight, height, body fat, and waist circumference) measurementsoccurred at three time points (late August, early November, and early January). Repeatedmeasures analysis of variance was performed to assess the effect of time on anthropo-metric variables. Sex was a between-subjects factor. Pearson correlation coefficients wereused to determine associations between anthropometric variables.

Results: During their first 10-12 weeks on campus, males and females gained 3.9�5.2 and4.1�3.9 lbs, respectively (p<0.001). Whereas rapid weight gain tended to continue inmales (2.9�5.0 lbs) during the holiday season, weight plateaued in females (0.1�3.5 lbs,p¼0.077 for interaction). Weight, height, body mass index, body fat, and waist circum-ference increased significantly in first-semester freshmen (all p<0.05). Weight change waspositively correlated with changes in body fat and waist circumference (r¼0.510 and 0.520,respectively, both p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings provide valuable insight on weight change in first-semesterfreshmen. To develop appropriate interventions, future research is necessary to confirmdifferences between males and females.

Funding Disclosure: Internal Funds from Bowling Green State University

Effect of Parent-Only Childhood Obesity Prevention Program on Child Body Image

Author(s): L. Paul1, G. Eldridge1, W. Lynch2, C. Benke1, S. Bailey3, J. Martz1; 1Montana StateUniversity Extension, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 2Department of Psychology,Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 3Montana State University Extension, Department ofHealth & Human Development, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT

Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to briefly describe effects of a parent-centeredchildhood obesity prevention program on child body image.

Objective: This study, based on social-cognitive theory, aimed to determine whether or notchild body image (BI) can be enhanced through a parent-centered childhood obesityprevention curriculum in which BI is addressed in conjunction with food and nutrition,physical activity, and parenting/family communication.

Methods: 4-H parent-child dyads were assigned to one of two groups: 1) 4-Health, aneight month, 10 session educational (experimental) program taught by Extension agents(N¼76 dyads) or 2) Healthy Living Information (control) program consisting of mailedpackets of information corresponding to 4-Health topics (N¼74 dyads). General LinearModel Repeated Measures were run with group and gender as between-subjects variablesand assessment period (Pre, Post, and 6 month follow up) as the within-subjects variable.Age of child was entered as a covariate.

Results: For the Body Esteem-Appearance subscale and Appearance Attitudes, there was asignificant main effect of assessment period. For Body Esteem-Appearance the greatestchange occurred between Post and 6 month follow up, while for Appearance Attitudes thechange occurred between Pre and Post. There were no significant main effects of assess-ment period for Body Dissatisfaction, Body Esteem, or Self-Description of Weight. Therewere no significant Group x Period interactions.

Conclusions: Although no treatment differences emerged, it appears both groups improvedBI in some measures including, in one case, from post-program to the 6 month follow upassessment. Dietitians should be aware that although not all BI measures may showimprovements, it is possible that program-related effects may emerge even after theconclusion of an intervention.

Funding Disclosure: This research was supported by the National Research Initiative of theUSDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, grant #2009-55215-05334.

September 2013 Suppl 3—Abstracts Volume 113 Number 9

Influence of Flavored Milk on Calcium Consumption in Children and Adolescents

Author(s): K.A. Brandt, J.E. Painter, K.J. Kennedy-Hagan, J.B. Frank; Family andConsumer Sciences, Eastern Illinois Univ., Charleston, IL

Learning Outcome: To determine if calcium consumption increases whenchocolate milk is provided.

Background: Media has portrayed chocolate milk negatively and has beenremoved in some schools due to added sugar. However, it contributes only3% of total added sugars in children's diets. It also provides all nine of theessential nutrients as white milk, three of which are vital shortfall nutrients.The purpose of this study is to determine if the presence of chocolate milkaffects the calcium intake of school- aged children in Nebraska.

Methods: A convenience sample of approximately 300 children and adoles-cents, K-12, participated in a three-day quantitative study. The study occurredeach day during their lunch meal. On day 1, participants were offered whiteor chocolate milk. On day 2, participants were offered white milk only. Onday 3, participants were offered white or chocolate. After each day, individualmilk cartons were weighed. Leftover milk was subtracted from the weight ofthe initial milk, 8.7 ounces, to determine total milk consumption. IRBapproval was granted.

Results: On day 1, the average consumption per student (white and chocolatemilk) was 5.75 ounces (215 mg calcium). On day 2, the average consumptionper student (white milk only) significantly decreased (p<0.001) to 4.4 ounces(165 mg calcium). On day 3, average consumption per student (white andchocolate milk) significantly increased (p<3.3 x 10 -6) to 6.1 ounces (229 mgcalcium) when chocolate milk was reintroduced.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that offering chocolate milk in additionto white milk, may increase overall milk and calcium consumption in aschool-aged population.

Funding Disclosure: None

Health Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors among Truck Drivers

Author(s): D.F. Vanata, H.L. Bumbalough; Health Sciences, Ashland Univ.,Ashland, OH

Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify health beliefs andnutrition behaviors among truck drivers.

Truck drivers are a population who has limited access to healthy foods duringtheir work hours, due to parking regulations and lifestyles associated withthat profession. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the healthbeliefs, nutrition knowledge, and dietary behaviors of a sample of predomi-nantly male truck drivers (n¼114, 96.5% males; age, M¼52.4, SD¼9.1) fromtwo independent trucking companies. Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations,based upon self-reported weight and height measurements, indicated that89.1% of the participants were overweight or obese. The drivers’ BMIincreased as the number of days per week driving increased (p¼.032).Approximately, 44% of the participants reported currently using tobaccoproducts. Among the 78 drivers (68.4%) who indicated having a refrigeratorin their truck, 52 reported almost always using it. Based upon the Trans-theoretical Model (TTM), 46.4% were in the stage of precontemplation foravoiding high-sodium foods, while 36.4% were in the maintenance stage.Similarly, 45.5% were in the precontemplation stage for avoiding high-fatfoods. Satisfaction of the available food options was assessed, with 82.0%indicating that they were either very dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfiedwith the prices of food available on the road. While drivers’ education levelswere positively correlated with fruit consumption (p<.001), the length ofyears smoking was negatively correlated with both fruit (p¼.04) and vege-table consumption (p¼.007). Results from this study indicate that nutritionalinterventions need to be implemented within this segment of the workingpopulation to help reduce obesity levels by improving dietary habits andbehaviors.

Funding Disclosure: None

JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS A-95