The relationship between alcohol use, eating habits and weight change in college freshmen

PurposeThis study aims to improve understanding of how alcohol consumption in college freshmen affects eating patterns before, during, and after drinking, as well as its relation to body weight change.MethodsTwo hundred eighty-two college freshmen (61% female; 59% Caucasian) completed measures of alcohol use, measured body mass index (BMI), and eating and activity habits before, during and following drinking episodes. Students were categorized by drinking status (non-drinker, low-risk, and moderate/high-risk) in order to explore group differences.ResultsSeventy-five percent of the sample reported past-month alcohol consumption, with 65% (N = 134) of these categorized as “low-risk” drinkers and 35% (N =  72) as “moderate-risk” drinkers. Moderate-risk drinkers were more likely than low-risk drinkers to report increases in appetite after drinking, with nearly half of students reporting overeating and making unhealthy food choices following drinking. Moderate-risk drinkers also demonstrated significant increases in 1st semester BMI change, relative to non-drinkers and low-risk drinkers.ConclusionsEating patterns for a significant number of college students are altered before, during, and following drinking episodes, which related to change in freshman year BMI.