Are you gaining 15 pounds in your freshman year?

            Many freshmen are familiar with a term, the freshman 15, which is an expression commonly used in the United States that refers to an amount (somewhat arbitrarily set at 15 pounds) of weight often gained during a student's first year at college according to Wikipedia. Is it still happening in The Ohio State University or people have already changed this for there are more caring their health and weight than before? As the term has derived from years ago, we need to find out what is going on for now.

            As to indicate the relationship between people’s diet habits and their weight gain, I have made a survey of 49 people randomly about the above questions. Results are shown in the following charts:

Chart from Self-made Survey Data

Chart from Self-made Survey Data

            From the chart about the entries description, we can easily conclude that sandwiches and wraps are the most popular entries among the The Ohio State University students, represents more than 30% of the students’ diet. Also, grilled chicken, bagels, pasta and pizza are also popular among the students. From other point of view, while choosing sides, students tend to choose fruits, salad, yogurt, soup and veggies, rather than fries, chips and cookies. Moreover, popcorn, cakes and cheese sticks gain very few votes. 

Nutrition Facts of a Burger from naturesnutritionist.wordpress.com

            As an international student, my intuitive for the Western diet is represented by McDonald’s and Outback Steakhouse. Shown by the nutrition facts of burgers, not only are the total calories from a burger as high as one third of the daily recommended calories intake, but also the calories from fat is 480, more than half of the total calories supplied by a burger. Additionally, indicating from the nutrition facts, the fat of a burger occupies more than 60% of daily fat intake per person. Along with the sides of fries to be the traditional American fast food, the fat from a meal may reach the maximum of the total fat of a day already. As a result, it is not hard to indicate the freshman 15 in past days.

Nutrition Facts of a Traditional Sub from foodliciousatnp.blogspot.com

            As sandwiches take the place of burgers to be the most popular entries in college, although the calories and fat from calories of a traditional sub is not much less than a burger, the sides students choose such as salad and fruits can increase the daily fiber intake largely. But why the fiber is so important for people’s health?

            Defined in biology field, fiber is the part of plant-based foods that our bodies can't digest. It passes through our digestive tract without providing nutrition or calories, and yet it is very healthy for us. An article I read recently from caloriesperhour.com suggested that, “Fiber makes us feel full sooner and stays in our stomach longer than other substances we eat, slowing down our rate of digestion and keeping us feeling full longer.” It is because the above reason that fiber keeps us away from eating more of other kinds of foods, some of which will finally turn into fat in your body easily. What’s more, fiber is moving much faster through your stomach, resulting that less of it is absorbed. 

            After the above analysis, we can easily induce that the freshman 15 is a myth for now and the result shows the same as what we have thought. Unlike what have stated in the definition of freshman 15, more than a half of students have never encountered freshman 15. To be extended, according to the research made by The Ohio State University showed that students gains only two to three pounds on average in their freshman year. However, it showed that “college students did not gain any more weight than non-college students of the same age, and that the only factor that increased weight gain was heavy drinking.” Consequently, it is easy to indicate that freshman 15 is not related to your diet pattern.

Chart from Self-made Survey Data

            From the data and analysis above, we can make an easy induction that people are eating much healthier than before and restrict themselves from unhealthy foods. Related to the college circumstances, it is a popular phenomena that college students are pursuing a vegetarian diet and most of the dining halls in The Ohio State University - Columbus are providing special diet for this high-fiber-intake diet pattern. It is an amazing effort to encourage more vegetable intake or even partial vegetarian diet.

            Apart from eating healthier, college students especially the freshmen do take the advantages of living on campus, going to gym more often to maintain a healthy body. All in all, as the living concept is now changing to be healthy diet and more sports activity rather than eating freely in the past time, the freshman 15 could no longer be applied to the freshmen.

            To keep away from freshmen 15 not only in your freshmen year but also during your future life, it is important to follow a few suggestions below. First of all, to maintain a low calories intake diet along with a great amount of fruits and vegetables while having no junk foods at all. Secondly, it is also significant to keep a regular exercise to burn the abundant fat and help you to maintain a great body shape. Last but not least, keep an active life style and a regular rest timetable in order to improve the metabolic function in your body.