The recent cultural shift towards focusing on healthy lifestyles has lessened the reality of the freshman 15 ( Photo: Lasia Kretzel )
As first-year students across Canada start university this week, they do so with the threat of the dreaded “freshman 15” looming over their heads.
The freshman 15 is the term used to describe the weight gain experienced by students who enter their first year of university, and conjures images of late-night pizza binges, beer chugging contests, and long hours in front of the computer in a cramped dorm room. But in a University of Guelph study published last year, researchers found that the feared freshman 15 is really more like the freshman five.
By tracking 116 female students and 100 male students in Ontario, the study showed that, during the space of their freshman year, females gained an average of 5.3 lbs, while their male counterparts put on approximately 6.6 lbs.
The cafeterias at the University of Guelph have a reputation of being some of the most health-oriented in the country; a reputation that Guelph student Emily Bhattacharya thinks is well-deserved.
“[The University of Guelph] is focused on supplying all cafeterias with foods that are considered necessary for a healthy diet,” she said. “They are diverse enough that students of all appetites can enjoy nutritious meals.”
On the downside, “fried foods are available until midnight, which is tempting and not always the best idea for students living in residence,” she said.
Worry over the dreaded freshman 15 is not a new phenomenon, but with a recent cultural shift that is focused on healthy habits and lifestyles, students are coming into university better prepared to deal with the temptations of cafeteria food, and are also prioritizing their time to include work-out sessions.
Adjusting to university life can be a big challenge for a lot of students, which is why universities across the country are taking initiative and helping new students to make healthy decisions.
At Queen’s University, first-year students and their parents receive a calendar with recipes for healthy meals from the campus chefs. The school also offers off-campus students the opportunity to take school-sponsored cooking classes.
“We’re trying to guide those students a little better,” said Bruce Griffiths, director of hospitality services at the school. He said it can be “overwhelming” for new students to adjust to living and making decisions on their own.
Marina MacDougall, a second-year student at Dalhousie University, said her school is also making an effort to educate students about their food and lifestyle choices.
“There are nutrition posters in the cafeteria, and a cafeteria TV that puts up facts and foods that are good for you,” she said. “There are on-campus nutritionists available for students, and most of the fitness classes at the [gym] are free.”
Rather than gaining weight, MacDougall said that she “didn’t eat enough and lost 10 lbs in the first six weeks.”
“If you’re a picky eater then I think it’s easier to go for the greasier options,” she said. “Have greasy foods as a treat, [but] make a sandwich for dinner if you don’t like what’s being offered. It’s better than grabbing fries and a slice of pizza.”