Leah Kresser

Professor Malcolm Campbell

URWT 1104

28 April 2017
WEBSITE-
http://freshmanfifteenlgk.weebly.co
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(Text of Website)

The Frenzy of the Freshman Fifteen

Introduction
A typical question asked around college campuses today is, Have you gained the

freshman fifteen?. The Freshman Fifteen has been a common saying for quite some time, but

has become much more of a popular topic over the recent years. If one would type in The

Freshman Fifteen into google, the top articles found would be How to avoid the Freshman

Fifteen, or Beating the Freshman Fifteen. There is also the question, what really causes

college students to gain the freshman fifteen? Also, is the freshman fifteen scientifically proven?

It will not exactly be a question of, is the freshman fifteen real or not? I will be heavily

researching different opinions of the freshman fifteen, and what people truly think causes weight

gain in college, and what the true facts are. I will also be researching nutrition, fitness, and

attributes that can be used to avoid the weight gain in college. Also, is there such thing as

losing the freshman fifteen? Do some students lose a decent amount of weight instead of

gaining it? All of these questions and curiosities can be answered through further research.

I choose this topic because I love nutrition. I love fitness. It is fascinating to me. Due to

the fact that I am a freshman in college, it is a perfect time to write this paper, and to learn more
about it. In this paper, I intend to further my knowledge in this subject, and hopefully bring some

interesting facts to the table, in which we can all learn from. Whether you know a decent amount

of information about the freshman fifteen, or barely at all, this paper will help you expand your

knowledge on it.

What exactly is the freshman fifteen?

What is the freshman fifteen defined as? There is not one definite definition. If one would

type The freshman fifteen definition into the internet, about 300,000 results would show up.

The medical dictionary defines it as a rite of passage affecting many American students in the

firstfreshmanyear of college or university in which they live away from home. Food

consumption often becomes more erratic and the diet more indiscriminate than is more typical of

relatively scheduled and balanced meals of home life with their parents. The number 15 refers to

the pounds gained during this period. There are multiple definitions, but they are get across the

same message- The freshman fifteen is weight gain in college your freshman year. If you asked

college students across the country, the majority of them would know the saying The freshman

fifteen. There is a common question that needs to be asked, is it a scientific fact? Is it

scientifically proven? This can be explored through further research.

Is it scientifically proven, and where did the name come from?

Is the freshman fifteen a scientific fact? Has it been proven through research? The answer

is no. Which brings into question, what caused the Fifteen part of the quote? Who picked that

number? According to an article by Olga Khazan of The Atlantic, it was originally called the

freshman five in the early 1900s, then developed into the freshman ten. As time progressed,

and Americans eating habits changed, the name evolved into The Freshman Fifteen, due to
weight gain becoming much more common. Will it progress into the freshman twenty as time

goes on?

Above is a chart of how common the freshman fifteen has been discussed over the years, covered

by magazines and online articles.

No, the freshman fifteen is not a scientifically proven. However, weight gain is common

in college. So, what exactly causes it? Some reasons may seem common, but some may seem

quite surprising.

Most common, and uncommon causes

It has been proven that weight gain is common in college, but what exactly causes it?

According to an article by Jennifer A. Carithers-Thomas, of the University of South Alabama, a

study was conducted at that University to test weight gain in freshman college students, and what

the main causes are. Within the 52 students who participated in the experiment, over two-thirds

admitted to gaining weight freshman year. The most fascinating part of the experiment was they

reported the top five reasons people were gaining weight. These were- general stress, social

eating, cafeteria food selection, irregular schedules, and the most common cause of weight gain-
Late night snacking. Alcohol is usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of

weight gain in college. However, although it is one reason, it is not in the top reasons that weight

gain is regular. In Carithers-Thomas research, it was actually the eighth most common reason.

There is also the psychological aspect of weight gain in college. An online article on

WebMD expresses that the reason behind it all is that the weight gain is a sign of a college

student or young person having trouble adjusting to a new lifestyle, and the stress that comes

with it. They mention emotional eating, such as when a tough test is approaching, or they do not

get enough sleep, and often have midnight snacks. Carol Holland, an associate professor and

psychologist in the counseling center at Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania, adds

"They don't have the support system of friends, family, and activities that they had in high

school, so they use what's available, namely food, to self-soothe". College can be a tough and

intimidating transition, and eating is often an escape from that.

Solution- Nutrition

Yes, weight gain in college is common, but what are some ways to avoid it? The clich

answer would be Eat healthy and drink water, but it goes far beyond that. In an article by

Gabrielle Kratsas, 30 Great Ways to Avoid the Freshman Fifteen and Stay in Shape, she shares

of some wise tips about how to maintain your weight in college. Many of the tips seemed clich,

such as Drink water or Eat in moderation. However, she pointed out some simple yet very

valuable tips that everyone can follow, such as eating pizza is perfectly ok, but instead of having

four slices, have one or two with a salad instead.

Also, eating light snacks all during the day will help boost metabolism, and make you

overall not want to eat as much from morning to night. Who wouldnt love to snack all day long?

Kratsas also discusses things such as if you order a pizza late at night, offer some to your
roommates as well so you dont eat as much as you might have on your own. Another simple

trick is to drink a glass of water before every meal that you eat, which is not difficult to do at all.

These are all effective tips, however it can be much more difficult to choose salad over

pizza, or fruit over brownies when both are offered to you. When a college student is studying

for a test late at night, they will probably reach for cookies instead of a healthier option. So, what

would make students choose healthier choices? It would come with habit. Beginning with small

steps, and then easing into a healthy eating diet. Exercise is also a critical key to avoiding weight

gain in college.

Solutions- Exercise and sleep

Exercise is also an important factor. According to ACE (The American Council of

Fitness) recommends frequent exercise, but they also recommend to get exercise in whenever

you have the chance. For example, instead of taking the bus to class, grab a bike and ride to

class, or walk. Also, take a gym class for credit to get the extra exercise in. Heading to the gym

4-5 times a week is recommended.

Another factor in weight gain is sleep. According to the University of Georgia Health

Center, the average college student gets 6-6.9 hours of sleep a night. However, students should

be getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night in order to live up to their best potential.

Specific Solutions-

Eat healthy and exercise. Sure, this is definitely the solution to staying healthy and fit,

but what are the specifics? Lets begin with foods. First off, eating a healthy breakfast, or just

breakfast in general. Many college students are in such a rush to get out the door and get to class,

that they do not think twice about eating. However, breakfast is the most important meal of the

day. It fuels your energy for the day, and can help your brain to warm up in a way. Thing such
as fruit, an English muffin, toast, eggs, or cereal (anything that is good for you and can get you

going in the morning) are all good for you.

Above is a picture from Choose My Plate. This is an organization that is promoting healthy

eating and living, and how you should balance your meals within the food groups.

As for lunch and dinner, having a mix of protein, grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy is

important. Things such as fish, ham or turkey, or meat are always a good choice for your protein

portion. It can also be a wise thing to eat snacks throughout the day, such as nuts, fruits,

vegetables, or dairy such as yogurt and cheese. It can aid in boosting your metabolism.

As for exercise, 4-5 days a week of working out is recommended. It is important to also

mix up the exercises. For example, one day you could go for a jog. The next day, you could do

things more focused on weights, and resistance training. Mixing up your workout routine helps

to work out all parts of the body.

The picture above, from The Natural Health Caf, is an example of different types of ways to

stay active and work out. Working out can be fun! Find a sport or exercise that you enjoy, and

focus on that.

Lastly, sleep. Personally, I enjoy sleeping so much, when I get the chance to do it. I try to

get anywhere from 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night. It is incredible what a good night of sleep

can do for you, and how it can benefit the day ahead of you. Productivity increases, energy

increases, there is really no negative aspect to getting lots of sleep. For many college students,

sleeping is not their top priority, which can lead to less energy and efficiently during the day.

Sleep is critical!

A Healthy Lifestyle- Conclusion

Weight gain in college is common, however it can be avoided. By making slight

adjustments in areas such as sleep, nutrition, and exercise, students can successfully maintain

their weight through college. College eating habits can set the tone for the rest of a college

student's life, and life after college, so making healthy choices is critical. However, touching on

one more subject is important. Eating unhealthy sometimes is ok! Take a break, and have some
cake, or pizza, or anything that suits you. The main objective to get across is when one eats like

that ALL the time, it can become an issue. So, enjoy college, and enjoy eating! Just all in

moderation.
 Works Cited Page

Carithers-Thomas, Jennifer A., et al. "Freshman Fifteen: Factor Fiction?." College Student

Journal, vol. 44, no. 2, Jun2010 Part B, pp. 419-423. EBSCOhost, Accessed 1 March

2017 librarylink.uncc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.librarylink.uncc.edu

Casey, John. The Freshman Fifteen Means More Than Weight Gain WebMD WebMD Teen

Health. Accessed 02 Mar. 2017 http://teens.webmd.com/features/freshman-15-means-

more-than-weight-gain

"Fitness Programs Top Ten Tips to Avoid the "Freshmen 15"." ACE Fit Fitness Information Web.

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"Sleep Rocks! ...get more of it!" University Health Center Managing Stress Sleep University

Health Center University of Georgia University Health Center Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

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"Types of Exercise." Natural-Health-Cafe.org. Web. 01 May 2017.