title: Examining the Weight Trajectory of College Students.
abstract: To examine the weight trajectory of students over 4 years of college.
  
  
  
  Anthropometric assessments were completed at the beginning and end of students' freshman year and the end of senior year to calculate body mass index. Questionnaires assessing weight-related behaviors were completed in senior year.
  
  
  
  Of the original 117 students, 86 remained in the study for 4 years. Body mass index was significantly higher at the end of senior year (mean, 24.84; SD, 4.46) vs the beginning of freshman year (mean, 23.59; SD, 4.01; t[85] = 5.61; P < .001). Weight was significantly higher at the end of senior year (mean, 71.32 kg; SD, 15.60) vs the beginning of freshman year (mean, 66.94 kg; SD, 14.02; t[85] = 6.60; P < .001). Students' mean weight gain was 4.38 kg and the sample increased from 23% to 41% overweight/obese. No significant associations were found between BMI and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  
  This study suggests that students gain weight throughout college, which highlights the need for weight control interventions to target more than just freshman college students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Electronic address: efpope@uvm.edu.
authors.forename: Lizzy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.affiliation: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BMI change; college students; obesity; weight gain