A college nutrition science course as an intervention to prevent weight gain in female college freshmen.

Tested the hypothesis that a nutrition course that stresses fundamental principles of human physiology, energy metabolism, and genetics helps prevent weight gain during the 1st 16 mo of college life. A randomized control trial was conducted from January 1997-May 1998 using volunteers. 40 female college freshmen (aged 18-26 yrs) participated in the intervention (21 Ss in college course and 19 controls) groups. The intervention was a 1-semester nutrition science college course. Body weight, nutrient intakes, and knowledge were measured at baseline, the end of the intervention (4 mo from baseline), and 1 yr later (16 mo from baseline). Statistical analysis was conducted using a repeated-measure analysis of variance. Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) students in the intervention group reported lower fat, protein, and carbohydrate intakes compared with the higher BMI students in the control group. Dietary changes reported by the higher BMI intervention student were associated with the maintenance of baseline body weigh for 1 yr in contrast with the higher BMI control students who gained 9.2 ± 6.8 kg. Findings suggest that nutrition education emphasizing human physiology and energy, metabolism is an effective strategy to prevent weight gain in at risk college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)