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Paloma Mendoza, a graduate student from the Exercise Science Master’s Program, received 2nd place at the Graduate Research Symposium, February 2018 with her “UTRGV Freshman Study – Cohort I” presentation. Paloma’s study is the first Hispanic Freshman Study to investigate the changes in weight, body composition (BC), hemodynamics, blood chemistry, and diet in Hispanic freshman students. |
Previous freshman research studies found that during freshman year, students gain between 4 and 9 pounds along with a decline in physical activity level. This weight gain is commonly known as the “Freshman 15”, referring that on average weight gain during freshmen year of 15 lbs. (6.8 kg)
Paloma’s mentor Dr. Ulku Karabulut is from Health and Human Performance Department