Freshman 15- True or Only a Myth?

As the winter holiday break ends and students return to school, there is a question on all of our minds: do college students really eat as much at school as they did at home over the holidays? Food is a staple in the lives of college students and many students do eat more during their first year of college than they had in high school. College students have complete freedom to eat what they want, how much they want, and when they want. Often, this is a new experience that begins with freshman. The belief that college freshman gain 15 pounds during their first year is very common. Many students attending college for the first time are less active in sports and physical activity and eat more for social reasons, stress, and convenience. Furthermore, many college dining services offer an all-you-can-eat plan, which encourages overeating. However, even though there are many reasons for freshman in college to gain weight, it is ONLY a myth. The average freshman weight-gain is between 2 and 10 pounds. Although this truth is much easier to handle than a 15-pound gain, any weight gain is 110% preventable. Some great advice I have heard is simple and provides little extra effort…

•Be prepared! Buy nutritious snacks to stock in your dorm room, such as carrots, low-fat popcorn, fresh fruit, trail mix, and low-fat cheese sticks.
•Smart hydration! Drink water, skim or 1% milk instead of high-calorie beverages at meals.
•Be active! Join an intramural team or weekly exercise class at the school gym. Try yoga!
•Be aware of mindless eating… don’t eat while doing homework.
•Broaden your taste buds! Try a new snack, such as veggie chips made from potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes dipped in hummus.

The freshman 15, 10 or 2-pound weight gain is completely preventable when taken the right steps- beginning with developing good habits from the start of college.

-Karen Eidem, University of Minnesota

Getting to know Karen… I am a junior at the University of Minnesota dedicated to helping the public with health-related questions and concerns while informing them with the most up-to-date information. Studying nutrition in college is a huge passion of mine and I encourage everyone to eat healthy because that simple change can affect your whole life in a positive way.