Adeela Asghar | Contributor
Featured Image: The Freshman 15: don’t let it consume you. | Basma Elbahnasawy
The transition from high school to university, while exciting, can also be a challenging experience that forces students to adapt to the added stress and anxiety that comes with adjusting to a new school, city, and living situation.
It’s not surprising that many students seek comfort in the form of food, as they attempt to drown their sorrows in syrups and other junk foods, which often leads to weight gain that’s colloquially known as the “Freshman 15.”
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “emotions play a huge role in weight gain, as stress, anxiety, personal challenges, and daily hassles can lead to overeating.”
Food has become a way for people to take back a sense of control in their lives, when they feel it is lacking in other areas.
Another cause of weight gain is time (or lack thereof)—it takes time to cook healthy meals, and many students don’t have that luxury when they’re trying to balance school, work, and whatever other extra-curricular activities they may have.
Fortunately, there are ways to avoid packing on those extra pounds. Eating breakfast is crucial when it comes to avoiding excess weight gain, as it can prevent overeating later in the day.
“If you are short on time like many undergraduate students are, due to class schedules, commuting, or anything else, even grabbing a small something to go, like an apple or a banana, on your way out the door is still better than nothing at all,” says Mandeep Gill, a fourth-year kinesiology and health science student.
Even though it can seem easier and more convenient to go with fast food snack options throughout the day, it’s much better to go with foods that aren’t high in trans fats and sugars (which most fast foods are). Instead replace them with foods such as fruits, veggies, and certain nuts.
Third-year business and society student, Maira Asghar always ensures that her “meal is made up of foods from the fruit and vegetable group, with the remaining two quarters made up of protein and carbohydrate sources.”
While diet is important when it comes to avoiding the freshman 15, it’s not the only factor, and exercise is also crucial when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight. Tait McKenzie offers annual gym memberships for students for $15.
Alafyah Bharmal, a second-year kinesiology and health science student, says: “The membership is incredibly convenient—it has allowed me to go the gym and stay active whenever my classes were finished for the day.”
Research shows that “staying active helps us maintain weight, improve energy, and relieve stress.”
Anam Khan, a first-year Kinesiology and Health Science student, adds: “Free physical fitness classes, also called PKIN, allowed me to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.” She recommends all undergraduate students look into them, as she feels everyone could benefit from these classes, which are offered for free at York. They’re open to all majors.
