Freshman Weight Gain: The Freshman 15

Gregory Micek

The “Freshman 15” refers to the supposed fifteen pounds that a college freshman gains in his or her first year. Family members and friends alike warn the incoming college freshmen that they are likely to gain weight as they begin their lives away from home. There are a number of factors that contribute to the weight gain that many freshmen experience, as well as a number of consequences that negatively affect freshmen.

The thought of the infamous Freshman 15 may not come into the minds of undergraduate freshmen until they start to gain weight, and there are many causes for their increase in weight. The first cause for increased weight is, according to The Washington Post, “unlimited cafeteria food, late-night pizza binges and snacking that comes with irregular student schedules.” Students realize that they can suddenly eat as much as they want in cafeterias where they have already paid for an unlimited meal plan. Many students admit to going to the dining hall more than three times a day, while some have even claimed to go six times in one day. Another factor that contributes to the increased weight of college freshmen is the fact that many students participated in a number of sports and outdoor activities in high school, but may not continue those sports in college. The reduced physical activity also contributes to a common increase in weight. Finally, the change in environment may make some students anxious or nervous. They may increase their intake of food to cope with any feelings of anxiety. The all-you-can-eat buffets in the dining halls, the decreased physical activity, and becoming situated in a new environment all contribute to weight gain in college freshmen.

There are a number of problems with the weight freshmen often gain in their first year at college. The first issue is that an increased weight may negatively affect students’ views of themselves and in turn may affect their self-confidence or self-assurance. Lower self-confidence could affect their academics as they lose motivation to do well in school. Similarly, a decrease in physical activity could make students anxious and make focusing during class and study hours more difficult. Overall, the Freshmen 15 is an issue that affects many college freshmen as they change their lifestyles, and students must take care to prevent themselves from gaining too much weight or allowing any weight to negatively affect their academics.