The Freshman 15

You've heard horror stories about gaining weight when you go to college. Is the “freshman fifteen” real? Because so many students gain weight rapidly during their first year of college, the phenomenon has been given a name - the “freshman fifteen” - which refers to the number of pounds these students gain during their freshman year. However, new studies show that the freshman fifteen is really more like the freshman eight. Most students tend to gain this eight or so pounds within the first three semesters of college. But eight pounds is still an unhealthy amount to gain in a single year, and students who are overweight in college are more likely to be overweight as adults.  Also, these individuals are at greater risk to develop type-2 diabetes.  So why is unhealthy weight gain such a frequent phenomenon among younger college students? Some of the factors are obvious, such as a huge variety of food choices in dining halls, and a lack of parental influence over which foods are consumed. Students also eat on a less regular schedule, and are more likely to “dine and dash,” or to graze on unhealthy snacks stowed in the dorm.  For example, the vast majority of college freshman who were active in high school sports don't compete at the college level. The late night studying and partying contribute as well, both because additional meals and snacks are consumed, and because the body's metabolism slows when it doesn't get sufficient rest. Add in the fact that alcohol consumption may double the number of calories a student consumes daily, it's not surprising that most collegiates gain weight. it's not surprising that most collegiates gain weight. It is possible to sidestep the freshman fifteen, however.  The first step to doing so is being aware of why it happens and taking steps to avoid the weight gain.