Factors of College Weight Gain

College is a fresh start, that allows students to become more independent, a time to start to figure out who they truly are without their parents telling them what to do. This may be done by getting involved in greek life, meeting new friends, or eating whatever they want, whenever they want. For most people meeting new friends partying at night. Partying is frequently followed by new students indulging in junk food such as pizza, or as many insomnia cookies as they can afford to buy.

Both a bonding moment with the new friends, and a way to fuel cravings poor diet habits set in. Bad habits, other than poor diet become relevant. Very often students use drinking to deal with changes students are facing, specifically within the first year. Adjustments such as social life or academic problems, can be very stressful to manage.

As a result to all of these transitions, dietary habits, and overall body image start to alter in a negative way.

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Multiple studies and articles have been created over the years, focusing on college students with weight gain. Habits created with in the college lifestyle are correlated with weight gain in its students. Weight gain is caused by poor eating choices, heavy drinking of alcohol, and ultimately stress. “ It is important to study the causes of weight gain in this particular group because they contribute to the tremendous rise of obesity in the United States” (CDC, 2007). These habits that students create during the years of college may stay with them in the future.

These inclinations tend to be created during freshman year. Poor diets and eating habits are a large factor in weight gain. “It has been found that students no longer meet the required servings of fruit and vegetables on the food pyramid” (DeBate, Topping and Sargent, 2001). The main place for hungry students living on college campuses are dining halls,“Most university dining halls provide a buffet style food system that provides a wide variety of food and allows students to eat anything they want.” (Peterson et al. 2010) The problem is there is no limit on the amount of food they can get.

There is wide variety of food offered. The options tend to range from healthy items, such as fruits and vegetables, to extremely fatty and starchy foods, such as french fries, pizza and a variety of deserts. In one particular study, “students stated they went into dining halls knowing what to eat, but as soon as they saw the food available, many times their minds changed” (Nelson et al. 2009). Due to this wide variety of food in dining halls, students often feel overwhelmed: their eyes tend to become bigger than their stomachs, resulting in plates piled high with different kinds of food due to indecision, leading to overeating. “The style of dining halls also encourages eaters to get a second serving of food which can lead to overconsumption. Students also stated not being aware of nutrition labels on foods that could help them decipher what food is a healthier selection” (Peterson et al., 2010). Students frequently overlook the nutritional facts available, if made available at all. Poor food choices, however, are also made outside of dining halls. “Due to time lack of time and poor time management, students tend to eat readily made food while on the go” (Nelson et 5 al., 2009). Students purchase unhealthy products and meals due to more affordable prices.

Compared to low priced fast food, items with nutritional value tend to be out outrageous in cost for low budgeted college students, “ They bought these foods not only in stores or vending machines, but in local restaurants and shops that provide deals for college students” (Nelson et al. 2009). Places with affordable food for students in college towns are normally fast-food restaurants. These joints provide high fatty foods at a cheap price, an example being Cookout. In addition and surprisingly, “One study found that between male and female college students, females were more like to consume high fatty or fried foods” (Racette et al. 2005). It is not to say one night of fried food will be immediately harmful, for all foods are okay in moderation; however, college students tend to abuse this concept. Their ignorance in of this truth causes a significant difference in their body image and weight. In addition to going out students do late night eating in their own dorm room. Not many students have access to a kitchen, especially within their first year; however, most do have access to a microwave. “Students tend to eat Ramen noodles or cup a soup, which are high fat and high sodium foods” (Nelson et al. 2009).

This poor excessive eating style and diet becomes habitual, and tends to contribute to the feared, “freshman 15.”The “Freshman 15” is a phenomenon that most college students are aware of. It is a result of the drastic change from high school to college. “College enrollment has been documented as a time for rapid weight gain” (Nelson et al., 2009, pg 227). This suggests freshmen who are adjusting to college will gain a noticable amount of weight during their first year. Searches have been done to dive deeper into this phenomenon to determine whether this concept is true. Kasparek conducted studies where, “Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured on numerous occasions over time to assess whether weight gain has occurred.

The majority of these studies showed that BMI increased due to the increase of fat, not muscle” due to what these students have been putting in their bodies. It was proven unexpectedly when, “Three studies conducted showed results that mean weight gain was about seven pounds” (Hoffman et al, 2006; Kasparek et al., 2008; Mihalopoulos, Auinger and Klein, 2008). “Another study found that the mean weight gain during the first year of college was nine pounds” (Racette et al., 2005). This proving that the feared “Freshman 15” was a myth; however, weight gain was not. Factors that are involved in weight gain include not only involve poor diet, but by the intake of alcohol due to the amount of increased partying. Partying is a large factor in weight gain for students. Going out is one of the top popular social activities students become involved with during the weekends, and for some even the week days. This is a time when they can be with friends, meet new people, and have fun. Any college student who has experienced a party will say nearly all of these events involve drinking alcohol.

For many students, their party time is Thursday(Thirsty thursday), Friday, and Saturday nights. These are times in which students become engaged in drinking as a way to relax, unwind and forget about any stress they may have encountered throughout the day or busy week of classes. “Alcohol tends to be high in calories and many students are aware of this.” (Lloyd et al.” ( 2008). Calories consumed through alcohol combined with the daily value of calories, and the late night junk food that is consumed post partying is a recipe for disaster. “When students have the “drunk munchies” they tend to eat unhealthful foods. This is because of the availability of these foods at local stores and shops that are open late” (Nelson et al., 2009). When people are intoxicated they are less likely to process the difference between what is sufficient and deficient to put in their systems. This imbalance begins to trigger other issues such as skipping meals throughout the day.

This is a very common issue within the college lifestyle. Skipping meals is done by some students who believe that by doing this they will consume a lesser caloric intake. “This also helped students get drunk faster which limited the calories from drinking as well” (Peralta, 2002). Consuming less calories by skipping meals to get drunk faster, and in result putting down the drinks early on might sound ideal, however; this game can become very dangerous in means of over intoxication, and slowing down the metabolism. Overall, the “Freshman 15” is a common phenomenon most college students have heard on and worry about. Although the studies has been proven false, the weight gain is true. Poor diet, and eating habits are hands down the most influential factor when discussing weight gain. The all-you-can-eat dining and late night snacking begin to spiral out of control.

Stress, which leads to drinking being another large indicator of weight gain. Students usually engage in this activity to help them forget about everything causing them that anxiety and stress. Due to the high amount of calories consumed in alcohol, and the influence it causes on unhealthy eating, drinking excessive amounts can and will lead to weight gain. Research is non stop, constantly being done about obesity and weight problems in college students. Study stemming from freshman year until the year after college should take place. Researchers in fact should measure these students after each year a total of either for four or five years, not just during the freshman year. They should then note the differences in the students bodies each year of college to see if any trends continue even into one after graduation. The results of this study could show which year involves the largest amount of weight gain out of all years studied. Additionally, for future research about college students, researchers should hold a program for college students who are coming into their first year of college.

An optional program held by the USDA on college campuses could inform those students who may not be completely aware of the risks that come along with the lifestyle they are about to part take in. This could set them on the right track. It is important that research continues to be conducted and that more is learned about the habits of college students, in order to better understand and teach those how to prevent obesity in college years, and to set a healthy lifestyle to follow for the rest of their lives. This paper is a reminder for students of what factors in the college lifestyle can affect one’s weight and what students should do to avoid these habits. While some of these factors tend to be found in most adults’ lives, the unique combination of all of the factors presented in college suggests that the health of college students may be particularly unstable.