The freshman 15-a closer look.
OBJECTIVES AND PARTICIPANTS: Changes in body weight, composition, and size were examined in college freshmen at the beginning (initial, n = 240) and end of fall semester 2007 (n = 214) and the end of spring semester 2008 (n = 205).


METHODS
Height, weight, body composition, and waist and hip measurements were assessed.


RESULTS
Mean weight, body mass index (BMI), absolute and percent body fat all increased significantly over fall semester and the academic year. About 31% of freshmen lost > or =5 lbs. Mean academic year weight gain was 2.6 lbs (entire group) and 6.0 lbs (weight gainers); body fat increased by 4.4 lbs in the weight gainers. A significant correlation (r = .509) was found between weight change and waist circumference change, but not between weight change and waist to hip ratio change.


CONCLUSIONS
Freshmen weight gain is associated with increases in body fat and waist circumference, which may be troublesome should the trend continue throughout college.
Gropper
Sareen S
SS
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA. groppss@auburn.edu
Simmons
Karla P
KP
Gaines
Alisha
A
Drawdy
Kelly
K
Saunders
Desiree
D
Ulrich
Pamela
P
Connell
Lenda Jo
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult