<p>Great thread mom3939–a problem many parents have no doubt wondered how to deal with. Useful suggestions on both sides of the coin which I may need next year as D will be a freshman. I come from the skinny gene pool and D takes after H’s side. My MIL has always had a weight problem, has lost as much as 100 lbs. more than once, generally obese since H’s childhood. So D and I have always talked about exercise and making good food choices but easier said than done. She’s a healthy weight now, has always been athletic but will be less so in college. In her case, if she does gain weight next year, she’ll know it and won’t want to hear about it from me, even though we are close, much like Emaheevul said. But you know your own daughter better than any of us.</p>
<p>Her weight gain may just be a college thing. It happened to me, skinny as I was, and probably for the same reasons (drinking, junk food, late nights, sporadic exercise, irregular sleep). Hit my peak sr yr, had stayed at school for summer classes and hadn’t lost what I normally gained each yr. At 146 lbs., grandma said no one in our family had ever been that fat! I was motivated but didn’t work hard at it and the weight started to work itself off anyway. Graduation, working world, real life probably all helped. Since your D didn’t have a problem before, and you don’t, perhaps her case will be similar.</p>
<p>Still hard to watch now. What are her roommates like–weight, food habits, exercise, sleep patterns, drinking, etc.? I always found it more fun to diet/work out with a friend for the accountability and social aspect. Try to educate her without pushing her to “do” something. Of course, she may not see the difference there. 
As some have mentioned, she might not actually know the reality of calories, esp. alcohol, portion size, metabolism and late-night eating, and getting enough sleep. I wish you both well.</p>