So you’re going to college. Sweet. You’ re going to be going through a lot of changes, making new friends, seeing new places, and oh yeah furthering your education. Great. But you also may have heard you are going to gain 15 pounds in the process. WTF?! As if you don’t have enough to worry about like getting along with your roommate and keeping your class schedule straight, you are also supposed to be concerned with this urban legend engrained into your head and meant to terrify you into thinking you are going to ..dun dun dun…..GAIN WEIGHT?! In an already weight obsessed culture it is no shock to me that this myth still circles the hall of every high school in this country as one of the “big concerns” when entering college (Over 90% of high school students surveyed can still easily define the term “freshman fifteen”, Graham and Jones, 2002).
So is there any truth to this? The truth is, that sometimes students changing habits can lead them to gain weight but it is often blow way out of proportion. College students do experience some weight gain. The majority of studies see approximately a five-pound increase for women and around a seven-pound increase for men (Anderson, Shapiro, and Lundgren 2003). This goes way below the fifteen- pound myth.
So does this happen to the majority of students? No. According to a study by Dr. Melody Graham and Amy Jones, of the 110 freshman subjects in their study, 36 actually lost weight. Hodge, Jackson, and Sullivan (1993) found no change in the mean weight among the freshman women they surveyed during a six-month period. Also, students can see a weight gain or a weight loss over a long time. Usually college students see a change in their weight over the entire four years and this still varies by each student’s individual life situation.
Thus, not everyone gains weight in college. Some people may lose weight some may gain-it varies by the individual. Some people may think, “I just want to stay healthy so what is the big deal if I worry about my weight and believe in the freshman fifteen?” Keeping the freshman fifteen urban legend alive can be a bad idea because first and foremost it does not support healthy behavior. It has not scared freshman into stopping eating junk foods or eating more fruits and veggies. It does not promote behavior change. Unfortunately, the term seems to be more successful in raising weight anxiety, which can lead to disordered eating. It also can hurt students by creating a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” When we believe something will happen, unconsciously, our behavior tends to lead us in that direction. Someone can think, “Hey, it’s normal to put on weight in college, so if I do, it’s ok.”
So how can you battle how you think about the “Freshman Fifteen”?
1. Become aware when friends or family start talking about it. How does it make you feel? Do you become anxious, scared, irritated? Do people talk about it as a warning or are they being judgmental?
2. Educate people. Remind your friends and family that on average students are only shown to gain around 5-7 pounds depending upon the INDIVIDUAL and does not only occur freshman year.
3. Remember, talk about weight issues thoughtfully and mindfully. Steer clear of perpetuating that the idea happens to everyone. Be a role model by slanting the subject to health, exercise, eating mindfully, and improving eating habits.
4. Try to be non-judgmental. Know that everyone is going through a lot of changes and struggling with one’s weight may occur as they enter college. Acknowledge that it is a challenge to eat mindfully in college environments.
5. Accept that the “freshman fifteen” myth is not going to go away but YOU as students can CHANGE the way you perpetuate the idea and the culture here on campus. What would happen if every time someone made a negative comment about weight or body image you could comment with a positive, educated response to promote healthy living and positive body image on campus?
Need help with your eating or want to participate in our healthy body image events? Check out our resources here at the Wellness Center!
*Free Nutrition Consultations- Concerned about your eating while in college? Speak with me, your on campus dietitian! Call 713-348-5194 to schedule an appointment.
*Mindful Eating Group- Have a bad relationship with food? Tired of failing at diets? Try the mindful approach. Dinner and discussion groups starting this fall. Contact Nutrition@rice.edu if you would like to sign up.
*The Body Project-Concerned about your body? Don’t change your body, change your mind! Join the Rice Counseling Center and the Wellness Center as we discuss the “thin ideal” and ways to promote positive body image within yourself. Sessions starting this fall, contact Nutrition@rice.edu if interested.
