Keeping off the Freshman 15
By Kate Schoen

Recently, the SRC hosted its annual “Taste of Fitness.” The event showed students how to eat healthy and stay active in college. There were fitness classes like yoga and step aerobics, and free food from local restaurants and dining halls.

Dietician Heather Pendleton was also on hand to talk to students about preventing the so-called “freshman fifteen” weight gain.

“The number itself is kind of a myth, but freshmen seem to be more susceptible to gaining weight that first year than other students,” Pendleton said.

So what is it about freshman year that makes people gain weight? Pendleton says students lead a totally different lifestyle in college than in high school.

“They’re living away from home. Their activity levels have changed. Now they’re eating in a dining hall that has a buffet where they can go back multiple times,” Pendleton said.

Partying and late night snacking also make the numbers on the scale climb. But you can avoid the “freshman fifteen” by getting exercise and watching what you eat. Junior Ashlee Sadler says the important thing is finding balance.

“You’ll be on Franklin Street at two in the morning and you’ll see Cosmic and you’re going to have a burrito sometimes, but try not to make it every night,” Sadler said.

Pendleton agrees that balance is key. By eating well and staying active, you can maintain a healthy weight and have fun doing it.

“We want to just make sure that every student has the best college experience that they can and come out a healthy individual,” Pendleton said.

UNC’s Counseling and Wellness Services offers nutritional and psychological counseling to help you at any point in college. For more information go to: (http://caps.unc.edu/).