Does the 'Freshman 15' Exist?

freshman, freshmen, college, university, student, students, freshman 15, weight gain, weight, obesity, alcohol, fast food, exercise, eating, nutrition — College freshman can develop many bad habits that contribute to the 'Freshman 15.'

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Unfortunately, yes.

While the extra pounds tacked on by new college students may not be exactly 15, freshmen are definitely at risk for adding unwanted girth.

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Back away from the burger and try to keep away from other fast foods.
Take a study break and get some exercise — join an intramural team, or just take a walk around campus with a friend.
Stop throwing back sodas to stay awake — all that sugar just packs on the pounds.
Like Mom always told you, eat your veggies. (Eat a salad at the dining hall, then perhaps move on to the fried chicken if you're still hungry.)

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Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.