Holidays bring ‘freshman 15i fears to forefront

By Dionne Victor

Each year, thousands of freshmen descend on college campuses across the United States, anxiously awaiting all that college life has to offer. Boundless freedom, late nights and the promise of memories yet to be experienced greet them.

This is not to mention all the food.

Many are greeted by the prospect of the 'freshman 15,” the myth that incoming freshmen gain 15 to 20 pounds by the time they finish their first year.

It is a concern to many students, especially as the holiday season approaches.

However, students may be reassured to learn that weight gain after high school is something that is actually spread over the four to six years that many students are in school.

'Based on interviews ... the weight increase (of college students) is based on a change in lifestyle,” said registered dietitian Nancy Graves, the associate dean of UHis College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Graves pointed out that this change in lifestyle is physical and behavioral. Students living on campus with meal plans have food readily available to them, and vending machines provide quick but unhealthy snacks.

Temptation is one of the key factors in weight gain, which is why students are more susceptible to putting on pounds during the holidays, when food is readily available and is especially appetizing, Graves said.

She also pointed out that stress, social pressure, eating out of habit and changes in physical activity play a part in weight gain.

These conditions are prevalent on campuses during the final examination periods, which fall at the same time holiday eating gets into gear. Many students find themselves going to restaurants to study or snacking on junk food to stay awake while cramming.

'When you are overly tired, some people feel the need to eat more, and they tend to go to comfort food,” said Linda McDonald, a registered dietitian and adjunct instructor with UHis Dietetic Internship Program.

Wendy Mitterhoffer, a senior finance major, said her eating habits might be healthy or unhealthy depending on how much time she has.

'If itis not (already) made Iim not going to eat it,” she said.

Students living in residence halls are not able to cook their own meals and depend on cafeterias that provide many fatty foods, along with few healthier options. 

The obstacle is that many students bypass the salad bar for hamburgers and pizza.

But there are ways for students to combat weight gain. 

McDonald recommends students eat regularly scheduled meals and healthy snacks such as vegetables and fruits instead of high-fat foods from vending machines.

Most importantly, everyone should eat breakfast, she said.

'Eating breakfast is a sign (to your body) that you are going to feed it during the day,” McDonald said. The key in eating breakfast is to eat low-calorie, high-protein foods such as cereal instead of donuts or other pastries, she said.

Besides eating breakfast, regular exercise is a way to ensure you wonit gain weight. Exercise is important in keeping weight off and keeping energy up, which is vital for college students.

Getting enough sleep at night is another important way for students to stave off weight gain, McDonald said.

If all else fails, following the food guide pyramid is a way to balance out eating habits, she said.

Watching what you eat is especially key during the holiday seasons, when many people engage in overeating.

Whether students want to decrease their chances of gaining weight over the Christmas break or watch their diet while in school, paying attention to daily food intake and making time for exercise is the best way to keep the freshmen 15 a myth instead of a reality, McDonald said.