The study will be an observational study with four groups including three groups of university student and a group of age-matched volunteers living in the same city that are not attending university as a control:~University students living at home.~University students living in private accommodation.~University students living in the halls of residence.~Non-university participants living in Aberdeen.~Recruitment will take place over two academic years using flyers sent via email or distributed face-to-face among undergraduate first-year students at the University of Aberdeen (e.g., the Freshers Week), as well as in different public areas, such as supermarkets and shopping centres. If participants agree to participate in this study by signing the consent form, their involvement will last around eight months. This includes three research periods. One at the beginning of the academic year (late September/early October) and then a follow-up after three months (after the Christmas holidays in January), and at eight months (end of the academic year in May). Participants will be asked to come to a designated room at the University of Aberdeen. Each appointment will be in the morning (approx. 15 to 20 minutes for each visit).~During each visit, participants will be provided with further details concerning the study and given time to ask questions.~Measures:~Anthropometric Measurements will be taken: Body Weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI), Sitting Height Ratio (SHR), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), Finger Ratio, Body Fat (BF%), and Growth Charts.~Dietary intake will be examined in two distinct ways. Firstly, self reported questionnaire. Secondly, participants will be asked to complete 3 * 24-hour recalls to assess their consumption of ( protein (g), fat (g), carbohydrate (g), energy (kJ), alcohol (g), total sugars (g), non milk extrinsic sugars (g), fruit (g), vegetable (g), meat (g), processed meat (g), poultry (g), and fish (g) ). They will report two weekdays and one weekend day by using Intake24 online dietary recall system.~Physical activity will be examined in two ways. Firstly, self reported questionnaire. Secondly, participants will use an ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometer (placed on the waist) to assess their total physical activity (min), total steps (steps), total awake time (min), and total sleep time (min) during weekdays and weekends. Participants will wear ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers for seven consecutive days except when taking a shower or swimming.~Stress: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire.~Socio-demographic characteristics: will be assessed via self reported questionnaire.~At the end of each visit, the researcher will explain how the accelerometer and 24-hour dietary recall will be employed.~After each visit, the researcher will contact the participants to remind them to record their food and beverage consumption and to wear the accelerometer.
The transition to university from secondary school comes with many changes to living arrangements, dietary and alcohol intake, physical activity, and stress. The purpose of this study is to explore weight gain in new university students in the UK under the 'Freshman15' phenomenon. This phenomenon is an expression commonly used in the United States and Canada to describe a weight gain of 15 lbs (6.8 kg) in students who transition from secondary school to university life. The study will assess the factors that predict students' weight gain during their first year at the University of Aberdeen. The change in lifestyle will be explored in relation to age-matched individuals not-attending university.