Fact or fiction: Is the ‘freshman 15’ real for university students?

The so-called “freshman 15,” where students gain about 15 pounds during their first year at post-secondary school, actually has some truth behind it, according to one Nova Scotia professor.

“Whenever you experience some dramatic life change, you gain some weight,” said Ji Lu, who teaches in Dalhousie University‘s Department of Business & Social Sciences in Truro.

He has researched the topic, which has become topical once again as students start their fall semesters this week.

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Lu said research done over the past decade shows that, on average, people don’t gain 15 pounds. In other research, people have been found to gain about 10 pounds or none at all.

“It’s a phenomenon, and I think it’s part myth and part truth,” Lu added.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a phenomenon, and I think it's part myth and part truth," Lu added.

Part of the problem, Lu said, can lie with students living alone for the first time and not knowing how to eat as well as they did back home. He says stress can also contribute to overeating.

One thing that may help prevent weight gain is eating with other people, Lu says.

“There’s some speculation, and one is peer pressure because nowadays, publicly, people will say, ‘I really, really want to eat healthy’,” said Lu.

Margo Riebe-Butt, executive director of Nourish Nova Scotia, says whether students live on campus and eat meals prepared as part of a meal plan, or live on their own and have to cook for themselves can also contribute to potential weight gain.

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Students living in residence should “look for the things where they can build their own sandwiches using whole grain breads, lean meats, fish, and those kinds of things, with lots of vegetables. The salad bar is often an option,” Riebe-Butt said.

While many students are busy with school work, there is an academic case to be made to find the time to eat well.

“You have better concentration when you’re well nourished, and better concentration will lead to better grades. It’s pretty linear,” said Riebe-Butt.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You have better concentration when you're well nourished, and better concentration will lead to better grades. It's pretty linear," said Riebe-Butt.