Variations in weight in the first year of undergraduate studies in health care

Abstract

Introduction: Admission to university can significantly alter students' lifestyle by favoring variations in weight. The objective was to identify the variations of weight and its relation with the Lifestyle of university students of the health area, during the first year of graduation. Method: Field research, prospective, longitudinal and quantitative data analysis with 123 university students from a health education institution. Results: The weight variation at the end of the first semester was -6.3 to 20.5kg, with a median of 0.7kg. In the second semester it varied from -17.0 to 5.1kg, with a median of 0.3kg. The variation of the Fantastic Lifestyle score at the end of the first semester was -36 to 16, with a median of -5 points. In the second semester the variation was -24 to 18, with a median of zero points. Conclusion: The weight gain was greater than the loss in the two semesters. In the first semester, the worsening in lifestyle predominated in those who gained and those who lost weight. In the second semester, it was observed that the worsening of the lifestyle was greater among those who gained weight, however, among those who lost weight predominated students who improved the lifestyle.