Meeting Specific 24-Hour Movement Guidelines Is Associated With BMI Among University Students With Overweight/Obesity

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2025

Journal

American journal of lifestyle medicine

Volume

19

Issue

2

DOI

10.1177/15598276221090190

Keywords

24-hour activity cycle; body mass index; physical activity; sedentary behavior; sleep

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Approximately 40% of college/university students have overweight/obesity; physical activity and sleep play a role. To address these interrelated behaviors, Canada recently released 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. This study aimed to determine (1) the percent of students with overweight/obesity meeting Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, (2) whether health behaviors differ by demographics, and (3) whether meeting guidelines is associated with BMI. METHODS: University students 18-35 years (n = 459) enrolled in a randomized controlled weight management trial completed 1 week of ActiGraph measured activity, self-reported sleep duration, researcher-measured height/weight, and demographics at baseline. ANOVA and t-tests determined differences in student demographics and BMI among those meeting vs not meeting each guideline. RESULTS: Of the analytic sample (n = 403), 341 (84.6%) met the MVPA guideline, 284 (70.5%) met the LIPA guideline, 236 (58.6%) met the sleep guideline, 62 (15.4%) met the sedentary time guideline, and 34 (8.4%) met all guidelines. Students meeting MVPA (30.8±4.3 vs 32.5±4.5, P = .008) or sleep (30.7±4.4 vs 31.6±4.3, P = .04) guidelines had significantly lower BMIs compared to those not meeting each guideline. Percent of students meeting sleep (P = .039) or all guidelines (P = .012) differed by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Meeting MVPA/sleep guidelines is associated with lower BMI; these behaviors are important targets for future weight management programs.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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