A Study of Weight Changes during the Freshman Year of College

This study investigated self-reported weight changes in 358 Kent State University freshmen college students throughout their first year of college.Data regarding diet, exercise, sleep, and stress and their relationship to freshmen weight changes were also collected.An online questionnaire developed by the researcher was used to test the three hypotheses that there would be a difference in weight changes for freshmen based on residential status (1), a difference based on gender (2), and that there would be a relationship between weight changes and diet, exercise, sleep, and stress (3).Additionally, the EAT-26 survey was used to gather information about eating attitudes and disordered eating behaviors to determine the number of participants who were at risk for disordered eating behaviors.Participants gained an average of 3.69 lbs. between the beginning and end of freshman year.No significance was found for weight changes based on gender (p = 0.147) or residential status (p = 0.139).Changes in diet quality, sleep, and stress levels may have attributed to the weight gain observed in participants.Results of the EAT-26 survey indicated that 17% (n = 61) of respondents were -at risk for an eating disorder,‖ with the majority being female.iii 1. Weight Gain of College Freshmen after Freshman Year............................................. 74 2. Lifestyle Habits Comparison Chart for Pre-Freshman Year and Post Freshman Year ..............................