Why does freshman 15 happen

Learn about nutrition. Many schools have nutrition counselors. If yours does not, talk to someone on the student health services staff about nutrition and how to make good choices in the dining hall.

Making a few lifestyle changes can help people manage their weight. Here are some you can try:. Keep an eye on your alcohol consumption. Not only can excess drinking lead to health problems, but beer and alcohol are high in calories and can cause weight gain. Why do you think it's called a beer belly?

Smoking is another culprit. Although cigarettes may suppress the appetite, smoking can make exercise and even normal activity such as walking across campus or climbing stairs more difficult — not to mention causing heart and lung problems and increasing your risk of cancer.

Many smokers who quit find they have more energy, so battle the extra pounds by exercising. You can avoid gaining weight and increase your chances of quitting if you do. If you want to stop smoking, you don't have to go it alone. Someone at your student health center can direct you to smoking-cessation programs and give you the tips and support you need to quit. Get enough exercise. Researchers found that students who exercised at least 3 days a week were more likely to report better physical health, as well as greater happiness, than those who did not exercise.

They were also more likely to report using their time productively. Reaping the benefits of exercise does not have to be as difficult as it might seem. Try to work 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your schedule each day like walking, jogging, swimming, or working out at the gym and you'll feel and see the results. For other options, check out biking or hiking trails or sign up for a martial arts class. Attending a class on a regular schedule can motivate some people to stick with their fitness goals.

If you don't like organized forms of exercise, you can work at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily schedule by walking briskly across campus instead of taking the bus, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or cycling to class. These are the 10 best diets for for almost every weight loss and health goal.

What makes them the best? They're sustainable, they're not super…. This curated list of songs is perfect for your celebration. This curated list of songs will help you celebrate and contemplate all that comes with the Juneteenth holiday. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. What is it? What is the freshman 15, anyway? What causes weight gain in early college? Tips in case you want to avoid gaining the freshman Read this next. Is This Love? Celebrate Liberation with This Juneteenth Playlist This curated list of songs will help you celebrate and contemplate all that comes with the Juneteenth holiday.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. While the poundage doesn't always exactly ring in at fifteen, the tendency to gain weight is significant enough to earn itself a lasting title. First, it's important to note that this specific amount of weight gain isn't common to everyone. Some people gain more weight, some less, and some gain no extra weight at all, or even lose pounds when they leave home for college for the first time.

However, it's a common enough experience that it has earned a nickname that has endured through several decades. Plus, it's something to be aware of so it can hopefully be avoided. What causes the notorious weight gain experienced by new college students? How can it be avoided? Getting to college and having unlimited choices and limited cooking experience can make a diet of fast food, chips, soft drinks, and pizza at 3 a.

Several weeks of this can cause quick weight gain. Many new college students find themselves in a position of doing less studying during class time under the watchful eye of a teacher and more studying on their own time when they can mindlessly snack on junk food for hours without anyone noticing. If you find yourself doing this, stop. Mindless eating when you're bored or engaged in another activity can lead to weight gain.

Closely related to the eating-while-studying phenomenon is the eating-late-at-night habit that many incoming freshmen develop. You may naturally find yourself staying up later to study or party, and hunger may sneak up on you. This sudden craving can lead to late-night eating, overeating, or binge eating.

And, any of those behaviors can lead to weight gain. Often, the most convenient late-night food is fast food. In fact, fast food is a convenient choice for any time of day. College life comes with many changes and challenges, including difficult classes, new relationships, and homesickness.

Yes, many college students drink—even freshmen. This contributes to the freshman 15 in two ways. Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in calories. Additionally, alcohol can deteriorate muscle tissue, which lowers your overall metabolism.