For freshmen, going home for Thanksgiving break and eating that nice, big turkey and a slice of pumpkin pie might not seem as nice after your mom pinches your stomach through your sweatshirt and points out that you have put on a few pounds since going away for school.
The “freshman 15” have not been easy to ward off. One has the option of ordering pizza at all hours of the night as well as eating comfort foods like french fries, cheeseburgers, ice cream and cookies at the Campus Center.
The everyday stresses of college, grades, sports and other extracurricular activities can all lead to weight gain as well.
This phenomenon of gaining 15 pounds during one’s freshman year has found its way to Otterbein’s campus. Some students report experiencing this weight gain; however, some are skeptical.
In a recent anonymous poll, students were asked 10 questions. Of the 63 students that took the poll, more than half — 55.7 percent — said they gained weight after one year at Otterbein.
A similar trend, however, appears to be occurring with the upperclassmen. Some juniors and seniors have reported losing weight now that they are living off campus and do not depend on a campus meal plan.
Junior marketing major Audra Kohler said, “When I was a freshman and sophomore and lived on the meal-swipe system, I felt like I gained more weight. Now living in the apartments, I make healthier food choices.”
In the survey, 9.8 percent said they have gained more than 10 pounds, while 45.9 percent said they have gained fewer than 10.
Of the ones that have gained weight since coming to Otterbein and now live off campus, 36.4 percent have lost the extra weight.
Not all students gain weight during their freshman year.
Junior theater major Nicole Gonthier said, “I actually lost weight my freshman year from walking everywhere, and I had a gym close to me.”
According to kidshealth.org, on average, students gain between 3 and 10 pounds during their first two years of college.
Homesickness, stress, relationships and anxiety can all play into this slow weight gain experienced during those years.
Junior nursing major Megan Hartnett said that living in the Commons and being able to cook for herself has made her stay at a steady weight.
“I lost weight freshman year, but now I’m able to cook
whenever I want and make choices based on what I want to eat,” Hartnett said.
Although a dramatic weight gain isn’t always the case, some methods for keeping off the pounds are simple and easy.
