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Freshman 15: not a myth among young women
Results of a new study confirmed that weight gain among girls transitioning from high school to college is not a myth.
However, the freshman 15 — the number of lbs freshmen girls in college are rumored to gain during their first year — was more likely the freshman 5 in this noncontrolled cohort study of 116 healthy college freshman. On average, girls gained 2.4 kg (P<.001), according to researchers from Canada.
They measured changes in weight at three study visits during the girls’ first year of college. Secondary outcomes included height, BMI, waist circumference, dietary intake and physical activity.
In addition to the 2.4 kg weight gain, BMI increased from 22.3 kg/m2 to 23.1 kg/m2; percent body fat from 23.8% to 25.6%; and waist circumference from 76.9 cm to 79.4 cm.
The girls reported no increases in dietary intake, but increases in sedentary behaviors, such as computer use. However, these changes did not have an effect on weight gain, according to the researchers. It was decreases in moderate physical activity that was an important predictor of weight gain. – by Katie Kalvaitis
J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.03.002.