Selected health behaviors that influence college freshman weight change.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the effect of physical activity (PA), fruit and vegetable intake, and alcohol use on 6-month weight change in 193 college freshmen (78.8% white, 88.2% women, 94.5% on a meal plan).


METHODS
The authors administered a Web-based survey in fall 2002 (baseline) and spring 2003 (follow-up).


RESULTS
There was an overall average weight gain of 2.5 lbs (p < .05), although only 57% reported weight gain (M = 7.1 lbs). Fruit and vegetable intake decreased (p = .034), alcohol use increased (p > .05), and PA was unchanged. Weight gain for students with body mass indexes (BMI) > or =25 kg/m2 was nearly twice that of students with BMIs < 25 (p < .05). Students with low-frequency baseline PA were twice as likely to be overweight. Follow-up data showed that students reporting > or = 4 sessions per week (ie, high frequency) of low-intensity PA were twice as likely to have healthy BMIs as students engaging in low- and moderate-frequency PA.


CONCLUSIONS
PA interventions should target freshmen with BMIs > or = 25.
Kasparek
Danella Gilmore
DG
Health and Physical Education Department, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733, USA. kasparekd@winthrop.edu
Corwin
Sara J
SJ
Valois
Robert F
RF
Sargent
Roger G
RG
Morris
Richard Lewis
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain