It's the warning from family and friends before departure for college. It's the endless chit-chat in the bathrooms as teeth are being brushed. It's the whispering and pointing when we're home on holiday break, scoping out the alleged victims. Yes, we have been consumed by the freshman fifteen.
The fateful myth that first-year college students are bound to gain 15 pounds during their first year may seem simple. The truth behind the phenomenon, however, is a bit more complex.
The freshman fifteen can be viewed from two sides. Some think it is inevitable, while others continuously denounce the warning as a myth. Despite one's views, nearly everyone hears chatter about the hot topic prior to departing for college.
"Throughout the end of the summer, anything I picked up was 'How to battle the freshman fifteen,'" first-year College student Jequeatta Upton said. "The media knew people were leaving for college."
Second-year College student Steve Jones commented on his exposure, finding it similar to Upton's.
"I heard about it more in high school," Jones said. "My brother would come home from college and talk about how his friend came back a butterball."
According to Theresa Anderson, lead outpatient nutritionist at University Health Systems and sports nutritionist for Division I Athletes, weight needs to be assessed on a broader scale. Some people need to gain weight their first year.
"For us to debunk that would be inappropriate," Anderson said.
She explained that 15 pounds is arbitrary -- not a perfect number one should be looking for, but rather an overall concept.
Despite varying views on the validity of the subject, University students have experienced a wide range of results of the first-year phenomenon.
"I didn't gain the freshman fifteen, but I did gain a few pounds," third-year Commerce student Chessy Soccoli said. "I was conscious of if first semester because everyone talked about it. I was also very picky about processed foods so I didn't eat a lot at the dining halls."
Third-year Architecture student Karen Liu, however, said she experienced just the opposite of Soccoli with regard to the dining halls.
"It seemed like the dining hall was a buffet all the time," Liu said. "I didn't know where to stop. My suitemates actually made fun of me for grabbing so many trays."
On the other hand, other students gained the freshman fifteen weight and said they were happy about it.
"I think part of it is definitely because I was ridiculously skinny in high school," fourth-year College student Alex Rosenburg said in reference to her weight gain. "It was necessary."
Rosenburg said she believes the weight gain is inevitable for women due to the fact that first year is when many women develop their "womanly shape." She continued to explain that the close proximity of the dining halls didn't help students who wished to remain slim.
Jones, on the other hand, attempted to gain weight by working out. Although he did put on extra pounds, he said the reason for the gain was not thanks to his trips to the gym.
"I gained 20 pounds when I discovered the joys of the keg," he said.
Although each individual may believe they have pegged down the source of their extra weight gain -- or threat thereof, according to Anderson, there are a variety of situations that may put a student at risk of gaining the freshman fifteen.
First, students need to have scheduled meals as well as healthy snack food in their rooms. Random picking and skipping meals may cause problems.
Alcohol consumption as well as lack of sleepalso plays a critical role in the process. Anderson's list expanded to include depression, pressure, changes in exercise pattern, comparing one's physical appearance to the appearance of others and even mindless juice consumption.
Anderson also commented on how important it was to know the components and portions of a healthy meal. Like Liu, many students "don't have a clue of what a meal should look like," Anderson said. "They have been served food all their lives, so when they come to college it is a 180 degree turn. All of a sudden they are responsible for deciding."
With this in mind, Anderson went on to explain what it takes to gain 15 pounds in a year. On average, 150-200 extra additional calories a day added to a person's diet can amount to a 15-pound increase.
"It is a half cup of ice cream, one beer, one small hard drink, one small bag of chips or six Hershey's kisses," Anderson said.
With an understanding of this, it is easy to see how many may experience the change.
Despite the stereotype that females are the only gender that worry about the weight-gain, many males encounter similar problems their first year. Guys and girls are talking, and both are being affected.
"Big honking football players will come to me saying that they have gained too much weight or that they have lost weight," Anderson said.
She added that although males may be less likely to seek help, they still face many of the problems women do with respect to weight.
Additionally, first year is not the only time when students may be at risk for increased weight gain. The decrease in reminders about the freshman fifteen can lead many students to gain the weight later in their college careers.
"Second year I was a lot more slack," Soccoli said. "I discovered the wraps and wasn't as picky. I also didn't go to the gym as much. I was like, you know, I passed!"
So, just what can you do to combat the possibility of this traditional first year, or general college weight gain?
According to Anderson, not having any forbidden foods, exercising regularly and maintaining meal times are the keys. Also, eating slowly and including protein at every meal may help combat the process. Additionally, Anderson stressed the importance of not eating only one kind of nutrient.
Despite the many negative stereotypes and varying views of the all-too-familiar freshman fifteen, it is important to remember to focus on the situation in a more open manner according to Anderson.
"We have become a 'weightist' society where everything is based on weight," Anderson said. "We need to look at life as a whole."
Anderson prefers to look at the situation as creating a balanced life. She said internal cues such as self-worth, comfort, well-being and taste of food are important.
Third-year Engineering student Michelle Smith said she agrees with Anderson.
"There is so much more to a girl than her weight," Smith said. "For example, along with the weight gain, what else has the girl gained that year? Probably a newfound independence and possibly a love for some volunteer activity through Madison House."
With that said, the freshman fifteen remains an ambiguous topic. Some may be affected by it, while others may soar through first year with no problems. There is information available, however, and despite what one's situation may be, the experts advise: It's the big picture that matters.
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