Avoiding the Freshman 15

A unique college experience now one embraces is a weight gain. However, this is a situation many freshmen every year find themselves in. Learning how to eat healthy and avoiding gaining weight can be important lessons learned during your first year away from home. Many different factors lead to the “freshmen 15” including late nights, on the go eating, not enough rest, and most importantly, a change in environment.

The staples of a typical freshmen’s diet aren’t the healthiest of foods. Potato chips, beer, soda and juices, and other high-fat and high-sugar foods are the most commonly eaten foods by freshmen due to their ready availability and typically cheaper prices. The freshmen 15 are an average weight gain during the first year of college. Although a fifteen pound gain is common place, some gain more while others gain nothing at all or even lose weight. By some simple changes in not only eating habits, but lifestyle habits as well, you can avoid the freshmen 15.

What causes the “15”?
With parental supervision no longer present, it is now up to the college student to pick all of their meals. Most frequently, students make poor choices and select some of the more unhealthy options which are available. These include choosing college cafeterias where fast food fare typically abounds. Despite its main stream appeal, fast food is one of the freshmen’s biggest enemies.

One university study has indicated that the average freshmen gains approximately four pounds during their first three months on campus, a rate that is nearly eleven times higher than that typical for the age group. 

Many on-campus cafeterias are now buffet style, throwing portion control out of the window. Another problem that has arisen, particularly on large campuses is the fact that many students no longer travel to class on foot, but instead choose to utilize shuttle buses. It is this exercise that has, in the past, reduced the amount of weight gain by allowing students to burn off most excess calories.