Calorie Compensation and Self-Regulation of Food Intake in College Students

Abstract

Objective: To examine self-regulation of food intake among college students.

Design: Randomized cross-over study completed between September and November, 2019.

Setting: A large public university, Florida International University in South Florida.

Participants: A total of 60 undergraduate college students, mean age of 19.8 ± 1.43 years old, 62% female, 74% Hispanic, 76% White.

Intervention(s): Participants attended 2 trials 1 week apart. During each visit, students were offered a preload drink (either 0 or 210 kcal) followed by a buffet-style lunch. Food intake was estimated using weights and pictures of the plates before and after eating and was compared between the 2 sessions.

Main outcome measure(s): Self-regulation by calculating compensation indices (COMPX) and their correlation with students' body mass index (BMI).

Analysis: Intake differences were examined using Welch and t tests. Regression analysis was used to assess correlations.

Results: Students exhibited the ability to calorie compensate when intake is manipulated with a mean COMPX of 95.57 ± 71.19. No score was perfect. There was a significant correlation between BMI and COMPX scores (F = 10.71, P < 0.001, r² = 0.292). Food choices differed between different BMI categories.

Conclusions and implications: Participants showed some degree of self-regulation, which suggests opportunities for creating effective interventions to improve health status and promote a more sustainable method to control consumption among college students.

Keywords: COMPX; calorie compensation; college students; compensation indices; self-regulation.