The term "Freshman 15" is an expression commonly used in the United States and Canada that refers to an amount of weight gained during a student's first year at college: 15 lb (6.8 kg). In Australia and New Zealand, it is sometimes referred to as "First Year Fatties",[1] "Fresher Spread",[2] or "Fresher Five",[3][4] the latter referring to a gain of 5 kg (11 lb).

The suspected causes of this weight gain are increased alcohol intake, the consumption of fat and carbohydrate-rich foods, and fast food in nearby restaurants. Many other causes include malnutrition, stress, and decreased levels of exercise. All of these factors can affect each person in a different way. Some colleges and universities are taking steps to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among their students in order to address the issue of accelerated weight gain.[5][6]

Research into the subject has shown that the "Freshman 15" is a misnomer. On average, a college student gains anywhere from 2-3 lb (1-1.5 kg) of weight during their first year.[7] The idea of the Freshman 15 has been shown to negatively impact ideas of body image for college students, espically that of female students.[8][9]

Counter-argument

Despite how commonly the Freshman 15 is asserted, a study from the Ohio State University showed that the average college student gains only two pounds (for women) to three pounds (for men) (1 and 1.5 kg, respectively) in their first year. Additionally, it showed that the gain was only a half pound (around 200 grams) more than non-college students of the same age, and that the only factor that increased weight gain was heavy drinking.[7]

Another study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (a subsidiary of the National Institutes of Health) found that, on average, college freshmen only gained 2.7 pounds. Additionally, only half of the students surveyed gained weight, and 15% of the students lost weight.[10]

Presumed Causes

Dining halls

A study done on 60 students at Cornell University showed that 20% of the weight gained by the test subjects was caused by the dining halls' environment.[11]

Eating habits

A 2004 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health concluded that "regular family meals provide an opportunity for the role modeling of healthy eating patterns and social interactions among family members, and may thus help to reinforce healthy eating patterns and prevent disordered eating behaviors.”[12]

In parental-supervised diets, students also usually ingest the proper proportion of foods from the different dietary groups; once removed from the parental dinner table, many college students do not eat enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.[13] This is because when students go to college, they experience independence that they usually have not experienced before. Many are forced to prepare or purchase meals themselves.[14] Research has shown that over 60 percent of college students commonly ingest sugary and fatty foods in place of fruits and vegetables.[15] A study conducted by Stephanie Goodwin of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute states that three out of four students don’t eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.[16]

Stress is more prevalent for freshmen because they are still transitioning from high school. When the body is stressed, it releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol. Cortisol has been tested to slow down the body's metabolism. Other studies have shown that when people are stressed, they have stronger cravings for foods that are high in calories, even though they might not be hungry.[17]

One study (Pliner et al., 2007) found that individuals will often eat the same amount as those around them, especially when they are in a small group. Much of this also comes from the transition from living at home to living on their own.[18] Most college students' activity levels significantly decrease over the course of college. This might result in weight gain.[19] College students have an above-average likelihood of engaging in both recreational and pathological consumption of alcoholic beverages.[20][21] Many alcoholic beverages are known to have a high caloric content, which is another potential reason for weight gain.[22]

Alcohol consumption

Nutrition

The body has a certain number of calories that it needs to consume in order to maintain its weight. This is determined through height, weight, age, and several other factors that differ from person to person. When a person takes in more or fewer calories than that set limit, weight is either gained or lost. Alcohol's calories content tend to lead to unwanted extra calories.[23]

Alcoholic drink Calories[23]
Beer, lite, 12 oz. 100
Beer, regular, 12 oz. 150
Frozen daiquiri, 4 oz. 216
Gin, 1.5 oz. 110
Mai tai, 4 oz. 310
Margarita, 4 oz. 270
Rum, 1.5 oz. 96
Vodka, 1.5 oz. 96
Whiskey, 1.5 oz. 105
Wine spritzer, 4 oz. 49
Wine, dessert, sweet, 4 oz. 180
Vitamin B12

When drinking alcohol on a regular basis, certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can follow. Examples of these deficiencies are as follows:

These deficiencies can lead to weight issues caused by malnutrition. Often, this is how certain cravings arise.[23]

About 1 in 4 college students report academic consequences from drinking, including missing classes, falling behind, doing poorly on exams, and overall receiving lower grade.[24] Students who are involved in fraternities and sororities in college tend to have the highest alcohol consumption rates.[24]

Researchers have found that those who consumed drinks of higher alcohol strength, ate significantly more than the others and also ate more fatty and salty foods. They also found that urges to snack were much higher among drinkers.[25]

Foods with alcohol

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's research, people who tend to drink the largest amount of alcohol have the poorest eating habits compared to those who do not consume much alcohol. In this study, researchers compared the 'healthy eating' scores of 3,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with their overall consumption of alcohol. They used frequency, quantity, and average daily volume to measure the alcohol consumption.

The researchers found that as the alcohol quantity increased, the Health Index scores declined. Diet quality was the poorest among those who consumed the largest quantity of alcohol. Care packages filled with unhealthy treats, usually sent by parents, are found to be the leading cause of weight gain. Those who drank less alcohol in an infrequent time frame had the best health index scores overall.[26]

A study done by Jatturong R. Wichianson and colleagues at the University of Southern California showed a direct relationship between eating late at night (night eating syndrome) and stress levels among college students. They used a standardized test to measure both the levels of NES and perceived stress each student had. The results showed that students who had higher levels of stress were more likely to have NES due to their inability to adapt.[27]

Body image

Body image in college students is one of the most consistent risk factors for eating disorders and is a significant predictor of low self-esteem, depression, and obesity.[28] Eating disorders typically begin between the ages of 18 and 21. The two most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia.[29] The idea of the "Freshman 15" makes students think that it is impossible to avoid unwanted weight gain when going to college.

Currently, beauty is considered good, and thinness is synonymous with beauty. Although the ideals of female beauty vary as a function of aesthetic standards adopted at each time, studies show that women have tried to change their bodies to follow these standards.[30] As of 2018, statistics show that 91 percent of women attempt to control their weight by dieting.[29]

Developmental and social changes that may impact body image include physical and emotional separation from family, requirements for high academic performance, and transitions such as moving from home to residence hall.[9]

By gender

Nicole L. Mihalopoulos and colleagues developed a study at a private university in the northeastern United States. Test subjects were made up of male and female freshmen college students who lived on campus. They took an online survey to answer questions about their eating patterns, social behaviors, and weight. The purpose of this was to discover if the individuals showed signs of body image issues or eating disorders.

125 freshmen were eligible for testing and the average age was 18.4. The results showed that about half of the test subjects gained weight. The men gained an average of 3.4 lb (1.5 kg), and the women gained an average of 1.7 lb (770 g) in their freshmen year. These results disproved their hypothesis that the women would have a larger weight gain than the men, but this stays consistent with other studies done on the hypothesis. Even though only 5% of the test subjects showed a weight gain of 15 lb (6.8 kg) or greater, the authors of this study concluded that the freshmen year in college has potential for weight gain and can even lead to obesity later in life.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Cara (2013-05-10). "First Year Fatties | Health and Fitness". Mhsbroadcaster.org. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  2. ↑ Lissa Christopher (April 2011). "University life can make you fat". Smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  3. ↑ Nick. "The Fresher Five". Critic - Te Arohi. Otago University Students' Association. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Hercus, Josh. "Fresher FAQ". Critic - Te Arohi. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Freshman 15". healthyhorns.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  6. ↑ Anderson, Jonathan R.; Bloom, Myra J.; Broshous, Wyatt T.; Chen, Gladys Y.X.; Jost, Scarlet R.; Lang, Andrew S.I.D.; Neto, Luiz Carlos L.D.S.; Mankin, Nancy V.; McMahan, Erika R.; Merheb, Jonathan A.; Nelson, Philip P.; Valderrama-Araya, Enrique F. (2023). "Can leading a physically active and healthy lifestyle prevent gaining the freshman 15?". Human Movement. doi:10.5114/hm.2023.127976. S2CID 265175646. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  7. 1 2 Palmer, Kim (November 1, 2011). ""Freshman 15" weight gain is a myth: study". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2011-11-02. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Mihalopoulos, Nicole L.; Peggy Auinger; Jonathan D. Klein (2008). "The Freshman 15: Is it Real?". Journal of American College Health. 56 (5): 531–3. doi:10.3200/JACH.56.5.531-534. PMC 2532948. PMID 18400665.
  9. 1 2 "Body Image | University Health Service". Archived from the original on 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  10. ↑ Mihalopoulos, Nicole L.; Auinger, Peggy; Klein, Jonathan D. (2008). "The Freshman 15: Is it Real?". Journal of American College Health. 56 (5): 531–533. doi:10.3200/JACH.56.5.531-534. ISSN 0744-8481. PMC 2532948. PMID 18400665.
  11. ↑ Levitsky, D. A.; Halbmaier, C. A.; Mrdjenovic, G. (November 2004). "The freshman weight gain: a model for the study of the epidemic of obesity". International Journal of Obesity. 28 (11): 1435–1442. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802776. PMID 15365585. S2CID 2415235.
  12. ↑ Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne; Wall, Melanie; Story, Mary; Fulkerson, Jayne A. (November 2004). "Are family meal patterns associated with disordered eating behaviors among adolescents?". Journal of Adolescent Health. 35 (5): 350–359. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.01.004. PMID 15488428.
  13. ↑ Brown, Lora Beth; Dresen, Rachel K.; Eggett, Dennis L. (March 2005). "College students can benefit by participating in a prepaid meal plan". Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 105 (3): 445–448. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2004.12.030. PMID 15746834.
  14. ↑ Goodwin, Stephanie K.; Hosig, Kathy W.; Serrano, Elena L.; Redican, Kerry J.; You, Wen; Schroeder, Aaron D. (2 September 2011). Development of the University Health Index to Examine the Interface between Campus Environment and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Weight in College Students. University of Arizona. p. 10.
  15. ↑ "Foods to power you through your finals; A university student asks our resident nutrition expert which foods to eat to aid brainpower during exam season." The Times. Lexis Nexis. Web. 7 June 2011.
  16. ↑ Goodwin, Stephanie K., Kathy W. Hosig, Elena L. Serrano, Kerry J. Redican, Wen You, and Aaron D. Schroeder. Development of the University Health Index to Examine the Interface between Campus Environment and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Weight in College Students. University of Arizona Ebook. Page 23. 2 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Epel, Elissa (January 2001). "Stress may add bite to appetite in women: a laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating behavior". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 26 (1): 37–49. doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00035-4. PMID 11070333. S2CID 4889400.
  18. ↑ "Social eating poses serious problems for college students - the Daily Texan". Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  19. ↑ "Physical activity level decreases among college students". 2010-11-11. Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  20. ↑ "College Alcoholism". Alcohol Rehab Guide. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  21. ↑ Morris, M. A.; E. L. Wilkins; S. D. Clark; M. Birkin (2020). "Assessing diet in a university student population: a longitudinal food card transaction data approach". British Journal of Nutrition. 123 (12): 1406–1414. doi:10.1017/S0007114520000823. PMC 7512144. PMID 32131903.
  22. ↑ Traversy, Gregory; Chaput, Jean-Philippe (2015). "Alcohol Consumption and Obesity: An Update". Current Obesity Reports. 4 (1): 122–130. doi:10.1007/s13679-014-0129-4. ISSN 2162-4968. PMC 4338356. PMID 25741455.
  23. 1 2 3 "Alcohol and Nutrition: Health and Disease Prevention - Does alcohol impact your weight?". MedicineNet. Archived from the original on 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  24. 1 2 "College Drinking" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  25. ↑ "How does alcohol consumption affect your weight and shape?". Archived from the original on 2018-04-14. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  26. ↑ "Unhealthy Drinking, Eating Habits Linked". Alcoholism.about.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  27. ↑ Wichianson, Jatturong R.; Stephanie A. Bughi; Jennifer B. Unger; Donna Spruijt-Metz; Selena T. Nguyen-Rodriguez (2009). "Perceived stress, coping and night-eating in college students". Stress and Health. 25 (3): 235–240. doi:10.1002/smi.1242. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05.
  28. ↑ "College and Body Image". Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  29. 1 2 "Negative body images result from college pressures". Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  30. ↑ Goswami, S; Sachdeva, S; Sachdeva, R (2012). "Body image satisfaction among female college students". Industrial Psychiatry Journal. 21 (2): 168–172. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.119653. PMC 3830171. PMID 24250055.

Bibliography

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