Relationship of weight change and food intake between the pre-holiday and holiday periods for university students

The objective of this outcomes research study was to examine the relationship of weight change, food intake, and exercise between the pre-holiday and holiday periods for selected university students. A total of 26 university students from two Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Human Sciences Department classes: Introductory Nutrition (IN) and Introduction to Human Sciences (IHS) were included in the study. A questionnaire was distributed during mid-September, along with follow-up questionnaires distributed in early December and in early January to obtain weight, food intake data, and current exercise regimen. Measurements of height and weight were taken. Other demographic information included age, gender, current residence, and enrollment in selected Human Sciences courses. There was no significant difference in respondent weight change between the pre-holiday and holiday periods. Further investigation for weight change during the holiday season among university students should be conducted with a larger randomized population size.