The Daily O’Collegian

Ah, freshman year at college; it’s a time for making new friends, enjoying new independence from parents — and getting fatter. Yeah, getting fatter.

The infamous freshman 15 isn’t just a myth. It is a real problem. Many students gain weight when they go to college because their lifestyles change.

Without Mom buying all the groceries, freshmen (sophomores, juniors and seniors, too) tend to buy a bunch of cheap, sugary, fattening foods.

Also, college classes require more study time than high school classes did. As a result, students get less sleep and have higher levels of stress.

It can be lonely and boring to be in a strange city, far away from friends and family. Poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain.

These factors usually are considered to be a large part of the traditional college experience, but they don’t have to be.

Oklahoma State University has many resources to make the transition into the college lifestyle as easy and healthy as possible.

The Seretean Wellness Center employs nutritionists and trainers to help students establish a healthy lifestyle for themselves.

“Being at an unhealthy weight may increase your risk for some health problems, such as back and knee pain, and put you at risk for diabetes and hypertension,” said Elizabeth Lohrman, a dietician at the Seretean Wellness Center.

In addition to serious health problems, most students are unhappy with their appearance when they gain weight.

Cultivating good eating and snacking habits can go a long way in helping to keep off unwanted pounds.

Lohrman recommended simple changes in habits, such as avoiding late-night eating and taking walk breaks instead of snack breaks during study sessions.

She also said when students do snack, they should choose foods with more fiber and less sugar, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Foods with higher fiber contents will satisfy hunger for a longer period of time.

Also, foods such as apples and oranges take longer to eat than ready-made snacks, like cookies or chips, and may help to curb overeating.

Lohrman also cautions against stress-eating or eating in front of the television or computer, for those behaviors can lead to overeating.

Many students who find themselves gaining weight may be adjusting to their slowing metabolism and less physical activity than they had before.

In addition to a healthy and balanced diet, students should get active to keep from packing on the pounds. Gym memberships can be an expensive luxury on a college budget, but OSU students don’t have to worry about joining a gym.

Membership to the Colvin Recreation Center is open to students at OSU.

The Colvin has a plethora free classes and it provides an array of work-out equipment, too.

“We have Club Fit which is an organization that helps those who are new to weights and cardio equipment feel more comfortable using them,” said Karissa Lowe, office manager at the Colvin Center.

The Colvin Center also offers massage therapy, swimming lessons and personal training for an additional fee.

Overeating may be more than a simple indulgence in food.

It could be a sign of psychological trouble.

Clinical counselor Cindy Washington said the adjustment to college can cause stress and some people eat more when they are under stress.

“One of the reasons the adjustment to college is so stressful is that students have more unstructured time and they don’t have a support system in place,” she said.

Overeating also can stem from more than just psychological factors. Some eating behaviors are socialized.

“Another component is our relationship with food,” Washington said. “Food tends to be a way we celebrate and comfort each other.”

She advised students to take a short time out, evaluate their behaviors and check in to find out what is going on.

Students should determine whether they are eating because they are hungry or because they are angry, upset or bored.

She recommended students take a walk, call a friend or find a way to get involved in the OSU community if they discover they are overeating from boredom or loneliness.

During the transition from the structured, comfortable life of high school to the unfamiliar lifestyle of college can cause most students to experience shifts in everything from weight to mood.

Washington advised that feelings of losing control, irritability and weight gain for a period of two or three weeks may be a warning sign to seek counseling.

University Counseling services is available for students in one-on-one sessions with a counselor.

Body-image and other support groups are also available to help students find a comfortable place to discuss serious issues.

Though the freshman 15 is a real problem for many college students, it is avoidable.

There are many factors that can cause a student to gain weight.

With a little self-evaluation, honesty and effort, students at OSU should be able to prevent the freshman 15.