Keeping Down the Pounds

By: William Hodges

The outrageous amounts of college students that gain unwanted weight during their first year of college has given this phenomenon the title of the “Freshman fifteen”. But what is the cause of this unhealthy weight problem? During the stressful transition to college students change many of their habits, some good, and some bad. According to CNN the decrease in physical activity, change in eating habits, and the increase in alcohol consumption are all major contributors to the freshman fifteen. Although the name freshman fifteen suggests that the average freshman gains about fifteen pounds their first year in college, according to USA Today, the average weight gain is actually closer to six to nine pounds. So what should students do to try and avoid gaining weight their freshman year? Exercise is probably the best way to keep the weight down. CNN suggests joining a gym or participating in athletics as a way to stay active. Also structuring your eating is another great way to stay healthy. By planning when you are going to eat and not eating five full meals a day you are able to control your food intake thus keeping your weight down. Some schools (Georgia Tech included) have taken this issue into their own hands by requiring each student to take Health as a class in order to educate students of this problem and give them ways to fix it. Although students are given a new found freedom in college, they ultimately need to be responsible for themselves and need to develop good habits early on in college in order to avoid the dreaded freshman fifteen.