The “Freshman-15” refers to an expected average weight gain of 15 pounds during the first year at college in US students. Although an overall weight gain during this period can be observed, most studies found that students gain less than 15 pounds on average. Studies in countries other than the US, however, are scarce. In the current study, 120 female freshmen at a German university were tested at the start of the first semester and again at the start of the second semester (after approximately 6 months). Body mass index (BMI) did not differ between measurements, but participants had 0.2% more body fat at the second measurement. Participants with higher BMI at the first measurement lost weight and participants with higher weight suppression (i.e., the difference between an individual’s highest previous weight and current weight) at the first measurement gained weight. Participants who reported to exercise regularly at the first measurement gained weight, but this effect was driven by those who reduced their amount of physical exercise during the first semester. Dietary habits and eating styles at the first measurement were not associated with weight change. To conclude, no evidence was found for an overall weight gain during the first semester in female, German students. Furthermore, weight change was exclusively predicted by BMI, weight suppression, and regular exercise, while eating behaviors were unrelated to weight change. Thus, it appears that variables influencing energy expenditure are more robust predictors of future weight gain than variables influencing energy intake in female freshmen.

中文翻译：

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对德国的“ Freshman-15”进行审查

“ Freshman-15”是指美国学生在大学第一年的平均体重增加15磅。尽管在此期间可以观察到总体体重增加，但是大多数研究发现学生平均体重增加不到15磅。但是，在美国以外的国家进行的研究却很少。在当前的研究中，在第一学期开始时和第二学期开始时（大约6个月后）对一所德国大学的120名女新生进行了测试。两次测量之间的身体质量指数（BMI）没有差异，但第二次测量的参与者体内脂肪增加了0.2％。首次测量时BMI较高的参与者体重减轻，而体重抑制较高的参与者（即，第一次测量时，个人的最高先前体重和当前体重之间的差异）增加了体重。据报在第一次测量时要定期锻炼的参与者体重增加了，但这种效果是由那些在第一学期减少运动量的人所驱动的。第一次测量的饮食习惯和饮食习惯与体重变化无关。总而言之，没有证据表明德国女性学生在第一学期的整体体重增加。此外，体重变化仅通过BMI，体重减轻和定期运动来预测，而进食行为与体重变化无关。从而，