Study: ‘Freshman 15’ is just a myth
November 9, 2011
Whether you're a traditional college student or a parent who is pursuing a college education, you've probably heard about the so-called "freshman 15."
For years, many college students have referred to the seemingly inevitable weight gain that goes along with late night studying, eating a lot of pizza and being under a new type of stress as the Freshman 15. However, a new study reveals that this phenomenon is really a myth.
Researchers from Ohio State University and the University of Michigan analyzed data on the weight of more than 7,400 college students. They found that the average weight gain of first-year college students actually averages about 3-pounds for females and 3-and-a-half-pounds for males, WebMD Health News reports. In addition, about one-quarter of freshman college students don't gain any weight at all - they actually lose weight.
"There are lots of things to worry about during their first year of college, including your roommate and your studies. But gaining weight is not something you should worry about," said study researcher Jay Zagorsky.
Staying active and reducing stress is one way to reduce the risk of gaining weight while attending college. Parents going to college can also reduce the stress associated with funding their education by applying for various college scholarships and researching grants for parents.
