The "Freshman 15" Myth

A new, though small, study from Auburn University in Alabama found that students who are starting college are more likely to gain between two and five pounds, not the scary 15 that myth and legends perpetuate. This supports older studies that found that freshman college students tend to gain only about three pounds in that first year.
 
So why does the “Freshman 15” live on? Well, myths and rumors are always hard to smoke out, but it could also be because college students are exposed to a smorgasbord of sorts in their cafeterias. It’s pretty easy to imagine gaining 15 pounds in a year when you have unlimited pizza, ice cream, candy, soda, etc. at all hours of the day.
 
If you’re worried about gaining weight in that first year of college, check out our article on living healthier. There you’ll learn how to eat healthy foods and avoid the junk. [The Washington Post]