College has been identified as environmental risk factor for the development or exacerbation of disordered eating patterns. Peak onset of eating disorders is between 16 and 20 years of age, when individuals begin leaving home and starting college. In a study of college health needs:

Thirty percent were extremely worried about body image, 25 percent were extremely worried about weight control, and six percent of student’s reports concern about anorexia or bulimia.

Here begins the fear of the "Freshman 15." The legend of the "Freshman 15" has scared many college students, as more than 90 percent of college freshman surveyed are able to define the term. In 1989, the concept of freshman weight gain during the first year of college was first introduced in a peer-reviewed article in Seventeen Magazine. The article reported that American freshman gained slightly less than nine pounds BUT this is just a legend with nothing true about it. Freshman who are concerned about the "Freshman 15" become concerned about gaining 15 pounds; therefore, are more likely to think about their weight, have poorer body image than others, and see themselves as being overweight.

The REALITY IS many students gain weight, however, most studies indicate that weight gain during the freshman year is far less than 15 pounds. Freshman women approximately gain five pounds, while freshman men gain roughly seven pounds. Some researchers found no changes in the mean weight among freshman women during a six-month period, according to a study conducted by Jackson Hidge in 1993.

During my freshman year, the "Freshman 15" turned to the "Freshman -15" as, in total, I lost more than 15 pounds. Other researchers, Melody A. Graham PhD and Amy L. Jones BA, discovered that out of 110 freshmen surveyed, 36 percent.

The transition or solution is to eat healthier or seek for a healthy alternative as you move into an unfamiliar neighborhood.

Nevertheless, the association to the "Freshman 15" is because we eat for many reasons that interconnect: Eat to feel better (blocks awareness of the bad feeling), feel bad about self fro eating mindlessly, set self up fro another bad or disappointing day, bad day (roommate issues, poor test performance), and feel down, stressed out, worried, anxious.

Therefore, what can you do to prevent the “Freshman 15” myth from becoming a reality? The answer is to create small changes, such as initiating a fitness program. Some suggestions for initiating a fitness program include: creating a support group. Companions or close friends can serve as powerful motivators and will hold accountability for the progress made, as misery loves company. Another suggestion is to set up personal goals. By setting realistic short-term goals and long-term goals for yourself, awareness kicks as to accomplishing these goals by a set time, almost as if they have a “due date.” Furthermore, progression towards and accomplishment of health and fitness goals can be wonderful means of motivation. Truthfully, it is easier to see progress when you keep track of it by jotting down notes, downloading a fitness app (My Fitness Pal, MyPlate), or add daily routines as a calendar reminder.

Additionally, an important companion to goal-setting is a reward; when you accomplish a goal, “Treat Yo’ Self” to something special. This will establish you as an optimist, filling you with hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome.