THE FRESHMAN 15 MYTH

We all have heard of the Freshman 15. We probably know a few student who did actually gain 15 pounds in their 1st year of university. But, lets face it, rare are the students who put on over 15 pounds in a year. In fact, the Journal of American College Health published a study that looked at 1st year college student weight fluctuation during their 1st year. The women who put on weight gained an average of 7 pounds. Weight change ranged from less than 15 pounds to more than 15 pounds with the average change in weight a loss of 1.5 pounds. Changes in body fat, ranged from a 4.6% decrease to a 2.9% increase in body fat, with the average a 0.36% decrease. Also, the study showed that students concerned about gaining 15 pounds were more likely at the end of the year to think about their weight, have a poorer body image and think of themselves as overweight.

If you are still concerned about Freshman 15, here are some tips on how to avoid it:
• Maintain a high physical activity level
• be conscious of what you are eating in your daily routine
• realize that alcohol contains lots of empty calories
• don’t skip meals – especially breakfast
• drink water to decrease hunger

Finally, here is a survey to rate your eating habits. You can then interpret the survey with this guide.