Freshmen 15 may be a myth, but weight gain is real

By Meghanne Adams —
When a graduating senior in high school leaves home, they have eaten the majority of their meals at home, or their food choices have been influenced by parents. Those choices often change when a student gets to college. Along with gaining plenty of new freedoms, incoming college students have a risk of gaining what is commonly referred to as the “freshman 15.”

The freshman 15 supposedly is the weight gained during a student’s first year of college. According to Sareen S. Gropper, however, there is little evidence to support an actual 15 pound weight gain.

Groper’s article “The Freshman 15- A Closer Look” argues that because of a huge change in lifestyle, college students have a higher chance of weight gain because of changes in stress levels, inadequate sleep, and a change in exercise habits.

All of those changes are a pretty good recipe for gaining weight. Let’s be honest here, though, and recognize that a huge contributor to weight gain in college is increased alcohol consumption. Now that students are out from under the watchful eye of their parents, a large portion of college students who drink will increase the frequency and amount that they do so.

Even with all the changes freshmen go through, there are ways to keep weight gain from being one of those changes.

The article “Avoid the Dreaded Freshman 15” has helpful diet tips and ways to keep the freshman weight off. The first way suggested in the article is to choose the right foods. It suggests that you see your plate as a pie graph. Dedicate one-third or fourth of the pie to fruit and vegetables, one-third to starch or grains and then one-fourth to protein.

Not only is what you’re eating important, but when you’re eating as well. The same article suggests eating small meals throughout the day, and to not let more than four or five hours go between those smaller meals. Keeping yourself from getting too hungry will keep you from overeating. It also suggests that you eat more during the busier parts of your day so that you are able to burn off those calories. Eating after 8p.m. leaves little time in the day to burn off calories.

This article also touches on the topic of drinking. It says drinking should be avoided because alcohol is full of bad calories that offer no nutritional value. Also, drinking leads to bad food choices. For instance, going to Taco Bell at 2a.m. often sounds like a terrific idea after a night of drinking.

Finding help was also a huge part of this article and probably the most important. If you feel like you are gaining weight and need help or advice, schedule an appointment with a school counselor or a nutritionist. The freshman 15 can be avoided by making good food choices, eating smaller meals more often and talking to a nutritionist if you feel like you might be at risk.