Freshman 15

How to Avoid it.

Freshman 15: Welcome

Myth or Fact?

First off, it might be comforting to know that the freshman 15 is not actually as common as you might think. This concept refers to the extra weight freshman tend to put on during their adjustment to college life. This name comes from America but in other countries they call it “First year Fatties” or “Fresher”. For such a well known phenomenon, the amount of people who are actually affected by the full 15 pounds is relatively small.

Freshman 15: Who We Are

Let's do this thing.

Freshman 15: What We Do

The Truth

Many studies have been made on this topic, but there can be a lot of inaccurate information because of limitations presented in their observations. Most of the time this is because they have a small group of students in their study, which can make their findings less concrete. For such a frequently used term, only a small percentage (5%) of students gain this much weight (Mihalopoulos). With that being said, weight does fluctuate quite a bit in college.

Have a Plan.

The next question we must ask is, how do we stop this from happening? Coming to college is a lot and your health can sometimes be put on the back burner but this is why it’s important to have a plan.

What has Worked?

This can be a rocky transition for many students, and it causes a lot of stress. It is no wonder that many cope with food. One study showed that those who were involved in online interventions to keep them accountable for their health, were able to stay at a healthy weight during the first year of college. The more frequently they were involved in these online interactions, the better they did. This shows how important accountability is when trying to fight the odds. Having a plan and following through is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight in college.

You Got This!

Just because there is icecream in the cafeteria all hours of the day, doesn’t mean you should have it for breakfast! Bottom line is, combatting this statistic means you need to surround yourself with motivation and inspiration!

Freshman 15: Services

References

Mihalopoulos, N. L., Auinger, P., & Klein, J. D. (2008). The freshman 15: Is it real? Journal of American College Health, 56(5), 531-534. https://doi.org/10.3200/jach.56.5.531-534

Gow, R. W., Trace, S. E., & Mazzeo, S. E. (2010). Preventing weight gain in first year college students: An online intervention to prevent the “freshman fifteen”. Eating Behaviors : An International Journal, 11(1), 33-39. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.08.005

Gropper, S. S., Simmons, K. P., Gaines, A., Drawdy, K., Saunders, D., Ulrich, P., & Connell, L. J. (2009). The freshman 15-A closer look.Journal of American College Health, 58(3), 223-231. doi:10.1080/07448480903295334

Freshman 15: Text