Freshman 15: fact or fiction?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate changes in body weight, BMI, body composition, and fat distribution among freshman women during their 1st year of college.


METHODS
Freshman women during the 2004 to 2005 academic year were recruited to participate. The initial baseline visit occurred within the first 6 weeks of the fall 2004 semester, with the follow-up visit occurring during the last 6 weeks of the spring 2005 semester. At each visit, height, weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and body composition (by DXA) were obtained.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-seven participants completed both the fall and spring visits. Significant (p < 0.0001) increases between the fall and spring visits were observed for body weight (58.6 vs. 59.6 kg), BMI (21.9 vs. 22.3), percentage body fat (28.9 vs. 29.7), total fat mass (16.9 vs. 17.7 kg), fat-free mass (38.1 vs. 38.4 kg), waist circumference (69.4 vs. 70.3 cm), and hip circumference (97.4 vs. 98.6 cm), with no significant difference observed in the waist-to-hip ratio (0.71 vs. 0.71; p = 0.78).


CONCLUSIONS
Although statistically significant, changes in body weight, body composition, and fat mass were modest for women during their freshman year of college. These results do not support the purported "freshman 15" weight gain publicized in the popular media.
Morrow
Michelle L
ML
Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Heesch
Kristiann C
KC
Dinger
Mary K
MK
Hull
Holly R
HR
Kneehans
Allen W
AW
Fields
David A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009825:Oklahoma; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*