The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of diet, physical activity, and lifestyle characteristics on body weight of incoming freshmen at a Midwestern university. Research shows that many college students gain weight during their first year at college due to a change in dietary habits, lack of physical activity, and other lifestyle characteristics, such as drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.A systematic sample of incoming freshmen completed an online pre- and post-questionnaire regarding diet, physical activity, and lifestyle characteristics. In addition, students had their height and weight measurements taken to determine body mass index at the beginning and end of their first semester in college.Of the 69 incoming freshmen who participated in this study, 66.7% (n=46) gained an average of 2.6 ± 2.1 pounds and increased their BMI from 24.7 to 25.0 kg/m2 in one semester; 24.6% (n=17) lost an average of 1.5 ± 1.0 pounds. More than half of the students reported they usually tried to make healthy eating choices; however, 58% of the students reported having on average 2 meals per day and the majority did not meet the recommended number of servings for all five food groups. Less than 50% of the students exercised 3 or more days per week and less than one-third strength trained. The majority of incoming freshmen neither smoked nor consumed alcohol. Interestingly, there was an association of weight gain in college students who decreased the average number of meals they had each day or increased the average number of servings of fruits each week. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences