Temple to study how to help students lose weight

Early in her college career, Kimberly Davidson fell into the typical campus lifestyle, a tailor-made prescription for weight gain: Study hard. Party. Watch TV. Eat junk food.

Davidson, 21, a junior at Temple University, had put on the so-called Freshman 15. Now she would like to lose about 30 pounds, which would place the 5-foot-9 social-work major at 140, well within the healthy weight range for her height.

She will join more than 20 other female Temple students in an 11-week weight-loss program that will aim to break ground and fine-tune methods that work best with the college crowd.

"There are very few weight-loss programs designed specifically for college students, and there isn't a lot of data about the efficacy of the programs," said Nicole Patience, a clinical dietitian at Temple Student Health Services.

The campus setting can be particularly challenging - with irregular sleep patterns, budget constraints, the stress of being away from home for the first time, and the prevalence of parties.

In addition, many Temple students work at least 20 hours a week, another stressor that could lead to poor eating habits.

"It's a unique set of challenges," Patience said, "compared to someone in the work world."

Obesity is a problem of particular relevance because about a third of college students are overweight, said Melissa Napolitano of Temple's Center for Obesity Research and Education, which will evaluate and monitor the program run by Patience.

Michelle Obama came to Philadelphia on Friday to promote her "Let's Move" national campaign to lower childhood obesity.

Patience began her program - Onward to Weight Loss Success (OWLS) - 21/2 years ago after hearing from students how much they wished they could lose weight in a healthy way. This semester will be different in that the program will be monitored and evaluated by the obesity center.

In the program, students learn about such topics as emotional eating, alcohol and weight gain, dining out, healthful cooking, and "mindful eating" - being in the moment, so to speak, rather than being distracted in front of a TV. All the discussions are geared toward college students, their lifestyles, and their budgets.

Participants set goals and keep "food records" as part of the weekly one-hour meetings, Patience said.

The students will receive physicals before and after the program. Their weight loss, attitudes, moods, and body images also will be assessed.

Twenty-six students have signed up. Half will get the program immediately; the rest become a control group, then will get help in the next cycle.

To be eligible, students must exceed weight limits for their body mass index. A 5-foot-5 woman, for example, would have to weigh 150 pounds or more to be eligible.

Just how much weight they can expect to lose is uncertain. In the past, those in Patience's program still living the college life have lost about a half-pound a week, compared with working-adult programs in which people shed one to two pounds a week, said Napolitano, an associate professor of kinesiology and public health at the obesity center.

Napolitano hopes the study will yield best weight-loss practices for students that can be rolled out to other campuses nationally.

"We want to get to people earlier," she said, "before poor habits are established."

Students will receive a $20 gift card for participating in the study, but Patience expects "internal motivation" - not the gift card - will keep them involved.

"One of my big motivations was just going there every week and seeing the other girls. We were each other's motivations," said Shuntelle Stephen, 23, who was in the program a year ago.

Stephen, who gained weight after taking steroids for asthma, lost 25 pounds in the program and has since lost 15 more by continuing to follow what she learned.

A public-health major, Stephen began going to the gym daily with her new friends. Information presented in the sessions also helped, she said. She learned, for example, that a margarita has about as many calories as 90 Gummy Bears.

Stephen, who has transferred to a New York state university, said she had entered the group a "very bad eater," relying on frozen and fried foods. She exited eating more healthfully, enjoying fruits and vegetables, controlling portions, and having small meals or snacks regularly during the day rather than loading up once or twice.

Temple junior Kimberly Davidson has struggled with her weight since her senior year in high school. Lately, she has been biking more and buying fresh foods at the grocery store that recently opened near campus.

"I cook every day for myself. I've been doing a lot better," she said.

She looked forward to beginning the group this week and getting a boost.

"I just kind of want to feel better and be in better shape," said Davidson. "It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. It will be good to have someone helping."