A randomized trial investigating the effect of a brief lifestyle intervention on freshman-year weight gain.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of an innovative, short-term lifestyle intervention on weight gain in female freshman college students.


METHODS
Ninety-five freshmen were recruited from a large public university in the United States.


METHODS
Participants completed baseline assessments and were randomized to a 5-session, 4-week intervention or wait-list control, with assessments at posttest and 3-month follow-up.


RESULTS
The hypothesized time by group interaction was not significant, p = .393; however, trends suggested that control participants maintained baseline weight, whereas intervention participants lost -2.07 kg by posttest but regained 1.05 kg at follow-up. Significantly more intervention participants (47.0%) decreased their daily caloric intake by ≥ 200 kcal compared with control (31.7%), p = .050.


CONCLUSIONS
Brief intervention to prevent weight gain was not effective in this sample. Future studies should investigate lengthening the intervention to enhance effectiveness and increasing recruitment to improve statistical power.
a Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida.
Kathryn R
KR
Middleton
Michael G
MG
Perri
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013333:Student Health Services; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain