Is the Freshmen 15 becoming a myth? Nutrition and health habits seem to be improving on campus

August 31st, 2009

It is common for parents and students to be horrified about a potential 15 pound increase once they enter their first year of university or college. As the myth goes, first year students are to expect a 15 pound increase in weight, and a 15 point decrease in their grades. The weight increase is typically attributed to pizza, beer, partying and binging.

With classes starting around the country over the next few weeks, there will be thousands of students who get to decide how they will be eating and living on their own for the first time. But parents should be relieved. More so than before, students are entering university with their health in mind.

As the Globe and Mail’s special suggested, (see http://www.globecampus.ca/in-the-news/article/the-myth-of-the-freshman-15/) changes in students habits have started to challenge the long standing 15-pound myth. A recent survey done by the University of Guelph found that women gained an average of 5 pounds in their first year, while men around 7 pounds.

Although there is no concrete dataset of older eating habits to compare to, it is nonetheless fairly easy to detect noticeable shifts in student eating and living habits. More and more students are cashing their cafeteria points in for bottled water, and for non-traditional meals such as chick peas/falafels, tofu, salads, and fruit. Joe Danis of the University of Manitoba suggested, “dining styles have evolved drastically over the years... there’s more options for the student than ever before.” After investing as $1-million into its food services program, pre-packed salads became fresh, and sandwiches lines have begun to replace burgers lines.

More than just eating, students are also showing greater interest in utilizing their campus gyms. First year students who are taken on tours of their campus are quick to sign up to become members. Combine this with an active and dynamic list of extra-curricular activities available, such as badminton, soccer, rugby, squash, hockey, and swimming, students are challenging their sedentary stereo-types.

Parents should encourage their students to seek out and participate in activities around campus, and should be aware of the fact that most of their peers are starting to see the value of practicing healthy living and eating.