{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02478231748158071, 'fraction_numerical': 0.012056262558606833, 'mean_word_length': 4.813229571984436, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Meal Patterns and College Weight Changes

Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is associated with overweight and obesity and involves consumption of over 50% of daily calories after 7 pm. The anecdotal “freshman fifteen,” often attributed to dorm food, may be associated with altered meal and sleep patterns. The purpose of this research was to 1) determine if college weight gain actually exists and 2) identify meal and sleep patterns linked to college weight gain. Most of 13 female and 16 male seniors reported weight gain (2–70 lbs) during college, except females in the minimal risk BMI group. Only 5 subjects consumed at least 50% of total calories after 7 pm on dietary recall. There was no significant correlation between body mass index (BMI), which was related to body fatness, and % calories consumed after 7 pm. The minimal risk BMI group had the highest caloric intake on dietary recall, lowest percent body fat, and the highest calories as percent of estimated resting metabolic rate. They also had the lowest % intake of calories after 7 pm and were the most likely to eat breakfast. Other findings involving blood glucose and calcium and sodium intake were noted. The results suggest that relationships exist among breakfast habit, calorie consumption at night, body weight/fatness and weight gain over the college years. While NES was not apparent in this sample, there is evidence to suggest that a subset of students may exhibit NES symptoms and this warrants further investigation.