The truth about Freshman 15

            The term freshman 15 dates back to 1985 in The Chicago Tribune. It refers to the weight many college students put on in their first year of college. However, the term is apparently exaggerated to catch the attention of many young adults regarding this issue.

·        Weight fluctuation occurs throughout life, in response to stress, eating habits, amount of exercise and other factors. There may be some truth in weight gain for college students and it is common for especially for freshmen to experience this phenomenon called the freshman 15 however, not to the extent it claims to be; It may only be 5-7lbs

·        Commonly, many freshmen live in dormitories on campus and resort to the dining hall with all-you-can eat buffet style meals. It’s easy to neglect proportions when faced with large varieties of food that we’re not accustomed to.

·         For many students, this is their first opportunity to experience total independence, and it may be a lot to deal with all at once. Stressors from class work to papers and exams, being in a new environment, the need to make new friendship and being homesick can make one indulge in food for stress relief.

·        A truth worth mentioning is the adequate amount of exercise we failed to accomplish. Elevators and escalators have provided us an incentive to use them instead of climbing the stairs. Another point worth mentioning is the usage of cars. Many students prefer driving their cars as their main source of transportation rather than use bike, rollerblades, subway or buses, or even walk. Using their alternative ways of transportation can surely increase the amount of exercise within the day to burn the unnecessary calorie intake we consume, thus prevent  weight gain of the freshman 15 and maintain, tone or even gain muscle mass.

·        It may seem childlike for a young adult to keep to a bedtime schedule. But the truth is that many college students don’t get sufficient amount of rest. Sleep is also essential for the body to maintain homeostasis. Irregular sleep patterns, inadequate amount of rest can be detrimental to the body resulting in weight fluctuations.

·        Another well known trend carry out by many college students is the drinking which can add on to the waistline. Whether in parties or other social events, alcohol is always present. Binge drinking is fairly common among fraternities and sororities especially. This is not only a dangerous act, but can be lethal also. 

·        It’s no secret that many students result to coffee and other java drinks. For frequent java consumers, the amount of sugar and milk should be taken under consideration also, for a great quantity consumed may contribute to the freshman 15.