How to stave off the 'freshman 15'.

• Position: Dorm Room Diet from Daphne Oz - Interview - Brief article

Daphne Oz, 20, of Cliffside Park, N.J., struggled with being overweight as a kid. But with the help of her father, a cardiac surgeon, she came up with a plan to lose weight and avoid the "freshman 15 "--the pounds many students gain their first year of college. She's now put it all in a book, The Dorm Room Diet, a guide to developing healthy eating habits in college. Upfront talked to the Princeton University junior about her book, which was published in September.

Q What's the main message of your book?

A Substitution when you can, moderation when you can't.

Q What are a few tips for avoiding the freshman 15?

A Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water every day ... and don't eat less than two hours before bed.

Q Won't this book make students more anxious?

A No. To be frank, I think that kids my age are already highly aware of what they look like and...