Weight gain, dietary restraint, and disordered eating in the freshman year of college.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were to assess whether women during the first year of college experience (1) significant weight gain; (2) a prospective relation between dietary restraint and weight gain; (3) an increase in disordered eating; and (4) a prospective relation between dietary restraint or concern about the Freshmen 15 (i.e., weight gain of 15 lbs during the freshman year of college) and disordered eating.


METHODS
Participants were 336 female students in their first year of college who completed questionnaire measures of Body Mass Index (BMI), eating disorder pathology, dietary restraint, body image, and self-esteem.


RESULTS
Participants' mean weight gain was approximately 3 lbs (1.5 kg), and among those who gained weight, the mean gain was 7.32 lbs (3.3 kg). Dietary restraint in September did not predict weight change in April, but participants who lost weight reported significantly greater dietary restraint than those participants who gained weight. Eating disorder symptoms increased significantly from September to April. Dietary restraint, concern about the "Freshman 15", and self-esteem in September uniquely predicted EDE-Q Weight and Shape Concern subscale scores in April.


CONCLUSIONS
Female students in their first year of college gain a small but significant amount of weight, and weight gain was mostly unrelated to dietary restraint. Disordered eating increases during the first year of college and, is predicted by prospective dietary restraint and concerns about weight gain.
Delinsky
Sherrie S
SS
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Eating Disorders Clinic, 45C Gordon Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. sdelinsky@partners.org
Wilson
G Terence
GT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain