Singapore: Researchers at Auburn University have for the first time ever conducted a study that evaluated the weight gain of students during all four years of college. After following 131 students throughout their college experience, the researchers found that "a whopping 70 percent of them gained an average of 12 pounds (and gained up to 37 pounds) in weight by graduation. The overall percentage of students found to be overweight increased from 18-to-31 percent."

The article delves deeper noting that the researchers found that the weight gain among the subjects "consisted primarily of fat mass, which means that natural growth patterns could not account for it." Thus most of the weight gain issues could be attributed to student behaviors, such as lack of sleep and poor meal choices.