Think You Have the Freshman 15 Under Control?

Scott Zadig

Students all over the country enter college with the idea of the notorious freshman 15 looming in the back of their minds as they begin their new life. With their newfound freedom, most people think that they will have it all under control, but just the opposite happens. Stress from school and new social surroundings changes everything for the average freshman in college, and without any sort of guidance, things start to take a turn.

There are many factors that lead to the increase of weight gained by students that the majority of them did not consider before entering college. One of the most significant factors that affect students is not living with their families anymore. Students had everything planned out for them by their parents, and as they enter college they are free to eat whatever they want in the “all you can eat” style dining halls on the majority of college campuses. Then there are also the effects of stress from college workloads that influence eating habits of students. Many students unconsciously eat to sooth their stresses and worries created by their new lives. As for the social aspect of college, there is a significant amount of peer pressure for students to go party on the weekends and drink alcohol. Alcoholic beverages tend to be high in calories and slow down students’ metabolisms, which in turn contributes to weight gain.

Fifteen or so pounds may not be a big deal to some people, but this a huge health issue for all students. Students do not have the guidance to make healthy eating habits because they are on their own now. Universities need to step in to encourage their students to make healthier choices to reduce the chances of gaining the freshman 15, whether its creating stricter meal plans or requiring more physical activity in the students life to work off the unneeded weight.