The freshman fifteen: weight gain in college students

Freshman 15 steady diet of ramen noodles and vending machine snacks can cause some students to put on weight in their first year of college: a phenomenon referred to as the "freshman 15." Although not always a full fifteen pounds, the weight that students might gain can lead to self-esteem issues and further self-destructive behaviors. A 2002 survey reveals that 59% of college students do gain weight during their freshman year (Peck). However, most studies show that the average weight gain may only be between 4 and 8 pounds and not a full 15.

Being away from healthy home cooking is not the only reason why some students gain weight. Many might develop eating disorders. Some may react to the increased pressures placed on them by heavy school work loads by nibbling through study sessions. Social anxiety may be another cause for the freshman 15. Writing for the Gainsville Sun, a student at the Universty of Florida admits that "Living in a dorm room was stressful" for many reasons (Bowe). Students on dining hall meal plans might start unnatural obsessions about eating. Others might dislike being away from their friends and family at home, suddenly thrust into a situation in which they sleep, eat, and study with total strangers. Food might serve as a source of comfort and solace during the time of transition into college.

Stress is certainly a major factor in the freshman 15. Students who have to work a job while they are in school face added stress having to make ends meet to pay for their tuition, room and board. The freshman 15 could simply be due to not being able to afford healthful eating too. Ramen noodles and vending machine foods seem much cheaper than a full meal at the dining hall. The freedom of being away from home might also cause some rebellious students to chow down on as much junk food as they can while away from mom's watchful eye (Hirsch). The freshman 15 is ultimately due to the radical change of lifestyle and environment that the first year of college entails.

Whatever its immediate causes, the freshman 15 can be easily prevented. Hirsch notes that keeping a regular sleep schedule and sleeping a full 7 to 8 hours per night helps students manage stress and prevent triggers to eat. To get enough sleep, students might have to resist the temptation to drink coffee during evening study sessions. Drinking coffee not only upsets sleep cycles; students to grab a cuppa joe with their roommates in the evening probably also grab a snack to go along with it. Too much partying can also upset sleep cycles and lead to irregular eating habits.

However, Bowe claims that partying and being lazy are not the primary causes of the freshman 15 for most students. Students with heavy work and study schedules have little time for exercise and may miss out on strict dining hall hours. Often the food served in dining halls is unpalatable too.

The freshman 15 is usually nothing to be concerned about. Being thrust into adulthood s a good thing for most college students, who learn quickly that their parents are no longer telling them when to do their homework, when to go to soccer practice, or when to eat. Before long, freshman learn that if they don't schedule regular exercise and eating habits that they are going to gain weight. Losing however many pounds that were gained during freshman year, whether 2 or 15, might mean simple tweaks to the college student's lifestyle habits.