How Legitimate Is The Freshman 15?

     

    The Freshman 15 is a term that practically every student hears before entering college. Being away from home and on your own can be very stressful especially when students must balance a rigorous education and all of the extra curricular opportunities. One way many students handle this stress is by eating it away, whether they are conscious that they are doing it or not. As a result, the term "Freshman 15" was coined, meaning students generally gain 15 pounds their freshman year. However, many are starting to question if this is a real thing.


      A study done by Ohio State University (unfortunately, Go Blue!) was aimed at proving whether or not the Freshman 15 was a myth. They found that students on average gained about 3 pounds their first year of college. Interestingly enough, less than 10% gained 15 pounds and over a quarter of their subjects actually lost wait their first year. They did find, however, that students did tend to gain wait throughout the course of their college careers. From freshman year to graduation students gained on average 7-13 pounds. They found the only thing that had a consistent cause of weight gain was significant alcohol drinking. There was also relatively similar weight gain for non-college students of the same age. Overall it appears that the Freshman 15 is a myth, although there is truth in students gaining weight throughout the whole course of their college careers.

   
     Some questions to consider:
Does the belief in the Freshman 15 cause unnecessary stress about food consumption and body appearance for these new college students?

Do you think the Freshman 15 perception can be blamed for newly developed eating disorders in college?

And finally, do you think the term 'Freshman 15" should be cut out of our language
or should it remain to remind students to stay healthy as they venture out on their own for potentially the first time?


Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/freshman-15-weight-gain_n_3860832.html