Causes of Freshman 15

            The culprit to freshman 15 can’t be held responsible by any single factor. It’s a combination of many features of daily habits that contribute to weight gain. Just to list a few causes of freshman 15 are: stressors from academic work or environment, method of dieting, amount of exercise, snacking and amount of rest. All these issues affect the body in different ways.

            Mental stressors can take on a physical toll. It’s no surprise when we’re most stressed over exams, papers, or presentations are when we’re most prone to being sick. Hence, if a student is emotionally distressed about his or her performance in academic area or over a relationship problem, weight gain is not unusual. Emotional ups and downs can cause one to over indulge in sweets or other high fat products to feel relief temporarily.

            There must be some health conscious college freshmen around. Some high school students may even be aware of freshman 15 and attempt intervention to prevent weight gain; Dieting is one choice. However, the method of dieting is very important. One must not think eating very little will do the job. The body needs sufficient amounts of nutrients to carry out the day’s work. Eating very little may even have adverse effects of causing frequent snacking habits. Snacking can cause weight gain and add on to the waistline almost without suspicion because one still thinks he or she is on a diet. Skipping meals is not your next best choice either. Body needs to be constant replenished with nutrients for it to function properly. In fact, skipping meals might trick the mind in thinking, “well…I didn’t have lunch, so I deserve a large dinner.” But the problem is that usually after that large wholesome dinner, you’re probably sluggish now and want to go straight to bed, which is another cause of the freshman 15.

            As young adults, there are never enough hours in the day to accomplish all that we desire. Many stay up till wee hours of day trying to study, write papers, or party. Irregular sleep patterns and lack of rest can have adverse affect on the body also. One may think, I know I don’t get enough rest, which means I don’t have as much energy as I should have. Thus I should eat more to fill that quota up. Sadly it doesn’t work that way either. This is another path leading up to the freshman 15.

            What’s that again? You eat balanced meals, get enough sleep, handle stress very well, exercise a lot and you’re gaining weight? What can be wrong? If you feel you’re doing everything in a correct and healthy manner, perhaps there is nothing wrong with you. Exercise can help one loose weight, but depending on what you do when you exercise is another factor to consider. Aerobic exercises are very good forms of cardiovascular exercises that can help one to loose weight steadily. However anaerobic exercises can help one build and tone up their muscles. Weight training as they call it can definitely help you look toned up and fit. So it is possible to gain some weight from exercising because muscle mass is actually heavier than fat. So it may seem like you’re looking slimmer and thinner, but that muscle you’re building and toning is what you see on the scale.

            There are many ways to gain weight. However, not all weight that is gained is necessary bad. Just as a reminder, going to college does not actually come with a bigger waistline. College does not guarantee Freshman 15. It’s all dependent on one’s eating habits, amount of exercise, and lifestyle that contribute to weight fluctuations which may cause the freshman 15.