The freshman fifteen: myth or reality in college weight gain

¶ … Freshman Fifteen

Jonathan Zaun

The approach of a student's first year of college inspires feelings of excitement, independence and adventure as a young man or woman begins their personal journey into adulthood. In addition to these natural reactions to the major transition of attending a university, incoming freshman may experience apprehension, homesickness or academic pressure. The confusing combination of these positive and negative emotions has afflicted new college students from every generation in much the same way, altering their established eating habits and contributing to a phenomenon known as the "freshman fifteen." This alarming trend takes its name from the purported fifteen pounds of weight gain which most incoming college freshman can expect to experience in their first year of school. Although most scientific studies have established the actual amount of weight gained to lie somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds, the "freshman fifteen" is a universally recognized term used to describe the weight gained by college freshmen in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia, among other nations.

While the issue of freshman weight gain is often approached as a humorous aside to the serious business of higher learning, the "freshman fifteen" is actually a very dangerous and destructive occurrence which can severely impact a new student's quality of life. Many students may consider themselves to be responsible enough to avoid the pitfalls of the "freshman fifteen," however, the facts indicate that almost anybody can fall victim, with "research published in Nutrition Journal show (ing) 23% of freshmen gain at least five percent of their body weight, an average of about 10 pounds, during their first semester at school" (Belasco 1). Many other studies on the issue have shown that both men and women fall prey to the "freshman fifteen" at a similar rate, which means this problem can impact any student at any school. In order to combat the concept of unavoidable weight gain which is encapsulated by the term "freshman fifteen," a broader understanding of the phenomenon, including its underlying causes and overall consequences, is a crucial first step.

The "freshman fifteen" has been associated with the first year of college for many generations of incoming students and the problem has spanned the social spectrum, causing students of every conceivable ethnic, social and cultural background to succumb to weight gain during their freshman year. Despite the continual societal changes which have occurred throughout the decades, the root causes of the "freshman fifteen" have remained much the same within universities around the country, and indeed, around the globe. The increased independence which is relished by college freshman, living away from the confines of parental supervision for the first time in their lives, causes many students to adopt the unhealthy dietary habits from which their parents have carefully shielded them. The modern university dormitory now offers students a variable smorgasbord of dining options, many of which offer convenience in lieu of nutrition. College cafeterias are increasingly likely to offer freshmen students school-sponsored "meal-plans" which offer constant access to all-you-can-eat buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A recent study conducted by the Weight Control Center at Brown University found that "breakfast and lunch at all-you-can-eat dining facilities accounted for almost 20% of the weight gain" (Balzan 1) which constitutes the "freshman fifteen." Combined with the chaotic social and academic schedule carried by most college freshman, these buffet meals, which typically offer young adult fare such as pizza, hamburgers, tacos and burritos, can quickly lead to a drastic increase in the caloric intake of a college freshman.

Another traditional aspect of college life, one which incoming freshman tend to immerse themselves in more than any other, is that of binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption. While imbibing a high amount of alcohol on a regular basis poses its own unique health risks, the ritual of drinking massive amounts of beer and liquor can actually exacerbate the weight gain experienced during a student's freshmen year. The prevalence of popular drinking games like beer pong and flip-cup across college campuses encourage freshmen to drink heavily and to drink often, with the most common result being a sudden and prolonged weight gain. Many myths are attributed to beer and liquor consumption by young adults, namely that drinking heavily has no impact on weight gain because the product in question is a liquid. In actuality, beer and liquor contain high calorie counts, with one 12 ounce beer containing 150 calories alone, and can adversely affect a student's weight. A study of alcohol's caloric content has shown that "one beer per night adds over 1,000 calories per week, which results in an added 15 pounds & #8230; every year" (Masterson 3). This startling statistic indicates that a clear link exists between the binge drinking celebrated by college culture and the freshman weight gain which will undoubtedly affect millions of students each year.