2008 Woodie Awards
Avoid Freshman 15 with diet, exercise
Mike Schaefer
Issue date: 6/3/08 Section: New Student Enrollment
Students leaving the friendly confines of their homes and venturing to colleges and universities this fall will experience a new sense of freedom: no more curfews, no one to make them do their homework and no one to tell them what and what not to eat.
Many students will add weight during their freshman year on campus because of a combination of unhealthy eating and less exercise. Former high school athletes are at a greater risk of gaining weight due to a change in their consistent exercise patterns.
While this may seem like common sense, students across the country will still experience the "Freshman 15."
According to www.freshmanfifteen.com, a Web site designed to educate incoming college students on expected weight gains, some of the common causes of weight gain are lack of exercise, late night eating, keeping unhealthy snacks on hand, eating unhealthy cafeteria food and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Karen Miller, a dietician at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Health Center, wrote in an e-mail that some students come to college with an adolescent body, so weight gain may simply be part of their body's development. She also said weight gain is a result of increased calories, decreased physical activity or a combination of both.
"Some students will eat to cope with sadness, depression, anxiety and being homesick," Miller said. "If food is being used as a coping mechanism, (students should) seek help."
Students should try to be active at least 60 minutes a day on most days of the week, Miller said. "Activity can include taking a walk, playing intramurals or other cardio type of activities," she said.
Scott Thorson, a sophomore mechanical engineer major, said he didn't gain any weight his freshman year because he went to the Campus Recreation Center and was on UNL's frisbee team.
Thorson said he worked out three or four days a week. He said his typical workout consisted of running two miles and lifting weights, followed by running another two miles.
Many students will add weight during their freshman year on campus because of a combination of unhealthy eating and less exercise. Former high school athletes are at a greater risk of gaining weight due to a change in their consistent exercise patterns.
While this may seem like common sense, students across the country will still experience the "Freshman 15."
According to www.freshmanfifteen.com, a Web site designed to educate incoming college students on expected weight gains, some of the common causes of weight gain are lack of exercise, late night eating, keeping unhealthy snacks on hand, eating unhealthy cafeteria food and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Karen Miller, a dietician at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Health Center, wrote in an e-mail that some students come to college with an adolescent body, so weight gain may simply be part of their body's development. She also said weight gain is a result of increased calories, decreased physical activity or a combination of both.
"Some students will eat to cope with sadness, depression, anxiety and being homesick," Miller said. "If food is being used as a coping mechanism, (students should) seek help."
Students should try to be active at least 60 minutes a day on most days of the week, Miller said. "Activity can include taking a walk, playing intramurals or other cardio type of activities," she said.
Scott Thorson, a sophomore mechanical engineer major, said he didn't gain any weight his freshman year because he went to the Campus Recreation Center and was on UNL's frisbee team.
Thorson said he worked out three or four days a week. He said his typical workout consisted of running two miles and lifting weights, followed by running another two miles.
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