What is the Freshman 15 and is it real? Statistics show that there is some truth to the unwanted weight gain experienced by some students in their first year of college. New students are faced with more variety as well as the option for larger portions then they might be used to. Team that up with the stress of a new environment, academic challenges, and friends, and the risk for weight gain increases. 

Why do some new students gain weight? There are a number of things that contribute to the Freshman 15:

1. Skipping meals
2. Increase in alcohol intake
   
3. Consumption of calorie rich food
4. Lack of sleep
5. Increased stress level
   
6. Larger portions
   

What can you do to avoid the Freshman 15? Click here for Gannett's Health Center's tips.