Objective: Weight change is common during the first year of college and may be related to different outcomes for men and women. This study examined the moderating effects of gender on the association between weight change and college adjustment and depressive symptoms. Participants: One-hundred and eighty-one 18-19-year-old college freshmen (56.9%…

Objective: The current study tested whether proposed sport-related risk factors for disordered eating behaviors were associated with increases in disordered eating over first-year college athletes' first four months of collegiate sport participation. Participants: Participants included a sample of first-year college athletes (N = 59, 45% female)…

Objective: Examine differences in physical activity (PA) constraints experienced as freshmen among college upperclassmen based on sex, race/ethnicity, adiposity, and fitness. Participants and methods: Upperclassmen (n = 524) from self-reported demographics, PA, subjective changes in PA, and freshman PA constraints via an online survey, and had…

Objective: To examine the effect of weight-conscious drinking and compensatory behavior temporality on binge drinking frequency of college freshmen. Participants: Freshmen (n = 1149) from eight US universities, Fall 2015. Methods: Participants completed the Compensatory Eating Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale and Alcohol Use…

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine associations of sleep quality and quantity, food security, and physical activity with eating behaviors that may be associated with college weight gain. Participants: College students enrolled in multiple sections of a general education class completed an online survey in January 2016 (n = 153;…

Objective: Investigate the relationship between intensities of physical activity and severity of drunkorexia behaviors. Participants: First-year college students living in residence halls (n = 127) completed an online survey comprising drinking, drunkorexia, and physical activity. Methods: Multiple hierarchical linear regressions were implemented…

While it is well documented that college freshmen gain weight, there is a dearth of studies examining critical time periods for this weight change. Freshmen living on campus (n = 103; 21M, 82F) visited the laboratory in August/September, November, January, February/March, and April/May. Measurements at each visit included: weight, waist…

Objectives and Participants: Changes in body weight, composition, and size were examined in college freshmen at the beginning (initial, n = 240) and end of fall semester 2007 (n = 214) and the end of spring semester 2008 (n = 205). Methods: Height, weight, body composition, and waist and hip measurements were assessed. Results: Mean weight, body…

Introduction: Understanding and assessing behavioral risk factors, particularly among college populations, is challenging for health educators. Similarly, issues affecting mental health remain unclear in terms of how body image evolves year to year in college students. A better understanding of how students perceive their bodies and to what extent…

Objectives: To examine relationships between gender, ethnicity, and residency, with factors influencing weight gain in 756 multiethnic college freshmen. Methods: An online survey obtained participants' height and weight; consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meals; dieting and exercise patterns. Results: Ten percent of Asians were…

Objectives: To examine how stress and health-related behaviors affect freshman weight change by gender. Methods: Three hundred ninety-six freshmen completed a 40-item health behavior survey and height and weight were collected at baseline and follow-up. Results: Average weight change was 5.04 lbs for males, 5.49 lbs for females. Weight gain was…