Weight Debate : The Freshman Twenty

Being overweight, eating poorly, and not exercising are becoming an epidemic in America, especially among college students. Most of the research on it states the same things, however the first research article I found speaks more to the behavior and its current affects on college students’ health. A slew of doctors and Jesse S. Morrell wrote an article about “Risk Factors Among College Men and Women” in relationship to obesity. The opening of this article stated that “an estimated 300,000 deaths each year are attributable to obesity… and young adults have experienced dramatic increases in obesity rates,” (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). This statistic is what really got the research going and helped the researchers focus specifically on college-aged individuals. Upon diving into their research, the authors found more alarming statistics and related diseases. This included a recognizable relationship between obesity in young people and chronic disease risk, especially diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). In fact, CVD was the second leading cause of death in the US in that college-age group showing that our generation is at a greater risk for health problems than ever before due to our lack of exercise and healthy diets. Researchers then took to college campuses to examine students and their habits and provide risk assessments to promote healthier lifestyles and hopefully decrease the probability of CVD and DM through the metabolic syndrome system,

De Vos, P., Hanck, C., Neisingh, M., Prak, D., Groen, H., & Faas, M. M. (2015). Weight gain in freshman college students and perceived health. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 229–234.

When I arrived here at college I was extremely disappointed with the selection of food here in the cafeteria. I frequently found myself eating only hamburgers and pizza over and over again, simply because I did not like the other choices. About four months into the school year I had do go to the doctor for a virus and when the nurse weighed me I was a little surprised by what I saw. I had gained a little over ten pounds, close enough to what some refer to as the “Freshman 15.” It is a common fear among college students that they are going to gain fifteen pounds during the course of adjusting to college life. However experts have stated that the idea of the so called “Freshman 15,” is not that accurate. Every college student is obviously

The expense of going to college or university can be enormous and overwhelming for students and parents. These costs can include, but are not limited to, transportation to and from campus, tuition, dorm fees, books, and many other “basics” for a young university student, leaving a lot of financial ground to cover. This often leaves little to no room for money to spare for a healthy diet, as students are generally relying on snacks and dining halls for their meals. “College is a time when young people begin to reinforce their eating habits. If you gain weight during this period of your life, it is generally an indicator that weight gain will continue after graduation” (Gores). With this knowledge in mind, developing good eating habits is very important. Developing a healthy eating plan is one way a student can start to combat the “Freshmen 15.” “Studies show that students on average gain 3 to 10 pounds during their first 2 years of college. Most of this weight gain occurs during the first semester of freshman year” (Hirsch 1) but research also suggests “that weight gain during the pursuit of higher education may go well beyond the first year, and could be a bigger health threat than parents, students, or scientists realized” (O’Connor). There are quite a few things that can contribute to this weight gain.

The Freshmen 15 is a common phrase we all heard when we were beginning our college careers. If you haven’t heard of it before, it refers to the amount of weight a first year college student gains. Granted this saying isn’t completely true, the transition from home-cooked meals to cafeteria food can cause some weight gain. Cafeteria food is not the only culprit of weight gain, increased alcohol consumption has an effect as well.

Having bad eating habits can cause vastly eating disorders and illnesses. Students attending college that do not eat right are most likely to conceive an illness or become overweight. “An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for becoming overweight and obese,” (McNight). Freshman 15 is most likely to get to the students that have This is something to think about when it comes to meal plans. The majority of the meal plans offered at any college are high in fats and calories. By consuming all of these foods you are more likely to having this problem.

College is a new stage in life with a new environment and maybe a different lifestyle. This makes it a prime opportunity to take control of a healthy lifestyle. Who would want to have the dreaded Freshman 15 (or even more)?

P., Ilich, J. Z., Dutton, G. R., Panton, L. B., & Abood, D. A. (2009). The freshman weight gain phenomenon revisited. Nutrition Reviews, 67(2), 83-94. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00143.x

Is the freshman fifteen fact or fiction? The freshman fifteen is when first year college students finish up there freshman year with more than an education around their belt. Supposedly, many students gain around fifteen pounds of weight during there freshman year. If this is true, why do students gain weight at college? Is the change between college and home the only reason for student weight gain? Is the culprit being in a different environment? Maybe there is to much freedom from being away from home. Stress, freedom, and sleep deprivation, is causing freshman to gain fifteen pounds in college.

Obesity is a leading nutritional disease in the United States, and there are various causes for why teenage obesity is growing. Hereditary factors like having a parent who has obesity, lack of physical activity, or unhealthy diets, are all signs of provoking obesity. Teenagers that are surrounded by family members that are obese tend to also be linked to the same eating habits as their family members. Consecutively, another cause for teenage obesity is a medical condition involving hormonal growth but this however

Everyone hears the dreaded tales, that when people go off to college, they’re doomed to gain “Freshmen 15.”

Disturbed eating behaviors are increasing among college students, and are now being researched. One of the most common eating behaviors among college students

It’s fair to say that majority of college students do not consume the proper intake of fruits and vegetables, and that could very well lead to obesity. Getting the proper intake starts at home, so if most students who are not used to getting the nutrition value that’s taught by their parents, then most likely will carry over when their in college.

Obesity has risen over the years. The United States now has one of the highest obesity rates. Bad eating habits are usually the cause of this pandemic. For the past few decades, college dorm foods have led to these habits. The more unhealthy food choices are, the harder it is for people to resist these foods. Colleges serve a variety of unhealthy food in their dining halls that contributes to students’ lower GPA. By eating healthier, students can maintain a healthy weight, focus better in school, and increase their school performance to a higher grade point average (GPA).

College age students face different problems than the teens in high school. When students live in dormitories at a university or college, they eat on a meal plan. They usually do not have money of their own to spend on food at restaurants so the cafeteria regulates what food they eat. The cafeterias serve a lot of foods such as hamburgers or other meats with sauces and a lot of potatoes. These foods are very high in starch and cause of weight gain.