By IRASEMA ROMERO
After classes are over for the day, freshman Chelsea Short gathers with friends in the Cannon Center Cafeteria within Helaman Halls for girl-talk, which most often involves the topic of the gaining of the infamous 'freshman fifteen.'
Short, a Houston native, is one of the many students in BYU dorms concerned about the issue.
Because of the transition from living at home to being independent, freshman year is a period of adjustment for students new to the college life.
'This summer, I was very good at working out every morning and I had a set schedule,' said Short. 'Here I am not really used to the schedule so I find less time to burn the calories.'
Short, who is taking 17credit hours this semester, is busy with schoolwork and rarely finds time have a healthy meal.
Dr. Lora Brown, an associate professor of nutrition, said that the idea of the 'freshman fifteen' is a myth.
'There may be an increase in average weight, but it is much less than 15 pounds,' she said. 'If there is any weight gain, several factor might contribute.'
One of the reasons freshman students gain weight is because their calorie intake is greater than what they work off, Brown said. Students may eat more food because they have unlimited access to the cafeteria.
'The more choices that are available at a meal, the more people tend to eat,' she said. 'That might prompt people to eat more than they were eating before they came to college.'
Along with eating too much, students may gain weight during their freshman year by skipping breakfast and binge eating later in the day, according to a flyer published by the Women's Services and Resources
Even if classes start later in the morning, some students may prefer to sleep longer and skip breakfast because they stayed up late to study.
'I don't have time for breakfast,' said Short. 'I don't think that many people have breakfast; I think they have a granola bar or a to-go thing.'
Because a great part of the day is spent studying, freshman students may find it more convenient to eat during that time, the flyer states.
They buy snack food in the vending machines, which are a major gathering spot for freshman, said Short, who often asks for her roommate's support to stop having meals from them.
'There are vending machines everywhere, and you're always going to want to eat and no one is stopping you,' Short said.
Another factor involved in the possible weight gain of freshman students is the lack of physical activity, Brown said.
'In spite being very busy, I am not sure students are as active as they were physically in high school,' Brown said.
Because most freshman students have stopped growing, their metabolisms have slowed down, she said.
Brown said during the first year of college students might seek convenience in their eating habits. They may eat what is easier to make or what is available in the cafeteria.
Later in their college life, they will realize that it is better to plan and prepare a meal, she said.
Sophomore Melissa Bedwell has already gone though this transition.
'It's not all stuff from vending machines,' Bedwell said of her eating habits. 'I actually cook food now.'
Compared to freshman women, male students may not be as concerned about the 'freshman fifteen.'
Freshman Derek Lontine, from Denver, has lost about 10 pounds since he arrived at BYU in the summer. He contributes the weight lost to skipping meals and playing rugby.
Because of his schedule, Lontine does not usually eat breakfast but admits to binge eating later in the day.
'Every guy I know binges, but then they go work it off,' Lontine said.
Even though he has lost weight, his goal is something different.
'I want to gain weight, I am too small to play rugby,' he said.
Like Lontine, other male freshman students want to gain weight: mostly composed of muscle.
Chris Lee, from California, majoring in biology, gained about 12 pounds of muscle this summer.
He is captain of three intramural teams and lifts weights at least four times a week.
'I think it's easier for girls to get it because they are not as active,' Lee said. 'Girls probably have better eating habits but guys workout more.'
Even though students may be concerned about gaining weight, it should not control their lives.
'It's pretty rare that any of us sustain a constant weight at any time' said Anna Mae Jorgensen, one of the leaders of the Women's Services and Resources' eating disorder support group, Fed Up With Food.
'Do not let a couple of pounds over what you wanted to be make you really nervous and cut back and restrict,' Jorgensen said.