ERIC Number: EJ790613
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 4
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
The Freshman 15: Is It Real?
Mihalopoulos, Nicole L.; Auinger, Peggy; Klein, Jonathan D.
Journal of American College Health, v56 n5 p531-534 Mar-Apr 2008
Objective: The belief that college students gain 15 lbs during freshman year is widespread, yet the evidence for this is limited. The authors aimed to determine whether college students gain weight during freshman year. Participants: The authors studied unmarried freshmen living on-campus at a private university in the northeastern United States. Methods: The authors used an online survey to collect information about social behaviors and weight. Results: The authors observed an average weight gain of 2.7 lbs. About half of the students gained weight, and 15% lost weight. Men gained more weight than did women. Conclusions: Freshman weight gain was 5.5 times greater than that experienced by the general population. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)
Descriptors: College Freshmen, Private Colleges, Birth Rate, Body Weight, Social Behavior, Gender Differences, Student Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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