College Freshman and the 15 pounds they do not have to gain

Weight gain the freshman year of college is common, but it is not unavoidable.

Many college students who were active in sports during high school drop their participation or decrease their frequency of playing sports when they get to college. Although they may walk more to get to class than they did in the past, this exercise does not compare with the hours of intense sports practice they may have previously had each week.

Although calorie burning usually decreases for college freshmen, their calorie intake often increases. Since college students are often up late at night, they may eat the equivalent of one or two additional meals a day. The extra eating seldom comes from balanced food choices. Snack foods, pizza, or submarine sandwiches – higher calorie foods – take the place of low-calorie vegetables and fruits that can fill students up with good nutrition. When students eat on the run throughout the day, they also tend to grab snack foods that provide a lot of calories without long-lasting energy.

And although alcohol may be illegal for most students, it is too often a part of college life. The unhealthy current trend for drinking large amounts can increase calorie consumption drastically.

To control weight and maintain good health and adequate amounts of energy, college freshmen, like everyone else, need to find ways to eat a lowfat, mostly plant-based diet, control portions and exercise daily.

One way college students can reduce the chance of weight gain is to look for healthier options when they’re dining in their school’s cafeteria. They can also carry away fruit from the dining hall to snack on later when hunger strikes.

Source: “Nutrition Wise” by Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN, American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org.