Weight gain in college

Have you ever heard of the “Freshman 15″?

It’s widely stated that a lot of college freshman gain 15 pounds during their first year.

Well, it turns out that’s not true. Researchers have now discovered that the weight gain is more like 5 to 7 pounds.

But, here’s the problem — that’s followed by a gain of another 2 to 3 pounds in the sophomore year.

The researchers didn’t know why — but they’re trying to figure it out. Here are what they think are some of the possibilities:

* More drinking of alcohol
* More socializing that involves eating
* More high-fat foods in dorm cafeterias
* Less physical activity

I don’t agree. I think it’s because many of the kids were not taught how to eat before they headed off to college.

How to eat certainly isn’t something you learn by watching food advertising or reading about weight-loss diets. And, according to my kids, it isn’t something that’s being taught in health class.

So, where do kids learn how to eat?

Allen Oelschlaeger
Author of The Straight Scoop About Childhood Obesity