This study investigated changes in weight in college freshmen at a small university in the Pacific Northwest. A growing body of literature has investigated the recent phenomenon that college students may be vulnerable to a rapid weight gain that could predispose them to a number of unhealthy consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of any weight gain in college freshman and any factors that might be associated with this finding such as physical activity levels, caloric intake, and the use of healthy campus options available to students. The results indicated that a substantial weight gain was not found, but students tended to, on average, gain more than what was expected for a typical adult given the time frame. Other contributing factors could not be determined from this study. Possible intervention strategies are cited in an effort to improve upon future research in this area.
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