THE “FRESHMAN 15” IS JUST A MYTH, NATIONWIDE STUDY REVEALS
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Contrary to popular belief, most college students don't gain anywhere near 15 pounds during their freshman year, according to a new nationwide study.
Rather than adding "the freshman 15," as it is commonly called, the average student gains between about 2.5 and 3.5 pounds during the first year of college.
And college has little to do with the weight gain, the study revealed. The typical freshman only gains about a half-pound more than a same-age person who didn't go to college.
| Jay Zagorsky |
"The ‘freshman 15' is a media myth," said Jay Zagorsky, co-author of the study and research scientist at Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research.
"Most students don't gain large amounts of weight. And it is not college that leads to weight gain - it is becoming a young adult."