Daniela Weinsweig

Problem

            Overwhelmed with their new surroundings, change of lifestyle, and stress, freshman in college tend to gain weight. Weight gain in freshman year is generally associated with excessive alcohol consumption, stress eating, larger meal portions, and decreased activity.

 

Background

            The expression “Freshman Fifteen” is a term used to describe the weight gain by students during their first year of study in college. Cafeteria food selection is ranked the second highest major factor identified to account for weight gain, right behind late-night snacking (Bradford & Thomas, 2010). In a study testing weight gain in college freshman, it was found that freshman weight gain was 5.5 times greater than that experienced by the general population. Many people are skeptical, claiming there is no way that college students gain that much weight their freshman year. Research validates that weight gain predictably and typically occurs; yet a weight gain of 15 pounds has not been confirmed by most research endeavors (Bradford & Thomas, 2010).

 

Remedy

            In an effort to help students be more health-conscious, the University of Maryland should add nutritional information to the signs in the dining halls labeling food. They could also put nutritional labels on the prepackaged food. This nutritional information would help students be more conscious of what and how many servings they are putting on their tray.