A prospective study of weight gain during the college freshman and sophomore years.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of weight gain among male and female college freshmen.


METHODS
Study 1 examined weight change over freshman and sophomore years among 904 students attending a state university in Indiana, from 2002-2004. Study 2 examined weight and BMI change over the freshman year among 382 students attending a private university in Rhode Island, from 2004-2006.


RESULTS
77% of Study 1 participants and 70% of Study 2 participants gained weight during their freshman year, largely during the first semester. In Study 1, weight gain averaged 3.5 kg in females and males; in Study 2, weight gain averaged 1.6 kg for females and 2.5 kg for males. Students continued to gain weight their sophomore year, with females 4.2 kg and males 4.3 kg heavier than at start of college. Overweight/obesity rates increased from baseline to end of freshman year for Study 1 (21.6% to 36%) and Study 2 participants (14.7% to 17.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
The first years of college may be a critical developmental window for establishing weight gain prevention efforts.
Lloyd-Richardson
Elizabeth E
EE
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Brown Medical School, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. erichardson@umassd.edu
Bailey
Steffani
S
Fava
Joseph L
JL
Wing
Rena
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult