Question

Claim: The freshmen 15 is real

Comments

The freshman 15 is not a real concept, it is merely a suggestion based on many gaining a little alcohol and food weight once students have been released of parental control. Everyone is different, everyone's bodies are different.

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The freshman 15 concept is not real. The reason why this saying is so popular is that freshmen have access to an all-you-can dining hall for an entire school year for the first time. As for myself, I gained almost 25 pounds because I was on a heavy bulk because I wanted to put on as much mass as possible. However, it is more of a myth than anything because it does not apply to all freshmen. The link below speaks more about freshmen 15.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-myth-or-truth-the-freshman-15#:~:text=For%20years%2C%20incoming%20college%20students,can%20expect%20to%20gain%20weight.

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I am currently a Junior (transfer) at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. Many have told me that I would gain the freshman 15 and it inevitable. I think that it is possible that many people can and will gain the freshman 15 in college but some people many not. This article is a study done to show that gaining the freshman 15 is real because of some factors.  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2532948/

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@PinaColada Claims are best framed as statements. So for this one, you could say "Claim: The freshman 15 is real."

@Gretawedemeyer @jasonchen58 @mariagrimaldo1 for the future, please "answer" the claim rather than "comment" on it. By doing so you can receive upvotes on your answers and have your answer chosen as the best one.

@gretawedemeyer strong fact-checks should include a source link so that readers know where you evidence is coming from and a rating.

@jasonchen58 nice job providing a clear explanation, personal experience, and a source link. Don't forget to add a rating going forward (see the sidebar of this page).

@mariagrimaldo1 nice comment and personal comment. Your explanation could include more details from the study to make it stronger. Also, don't forget to add a rating to your fact-checks going forward (see the sidebar of this page).

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The freshman 15 is a legitimate concept, but it is based off of fear more than fact. Students typically gain 2-5 pounds, not nearly as many as 15. It should be called the freshman 5.

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/the-freshman-15-is-a-dangerous-myth

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@seanb2 for the future, please "answer" the claim rather than "comment" on it. By doing so you can receive upvotes on your answers and have your answer chosen as the best one. Don't forget to add a rating to your fact-check (see the sidebar of this page).

Answer 1

Even though studies have shown an average weight gain among college freshmen, that value is only 2.7 pounds, not close to the alleged 15. Moreover, only half of college freshmen gain weight, making the claim an generalization on the whole class.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2532948/

Comments

Nice job finding research on the topic, providing an explanation, and including data. For the future, please add a rating to your fact-check (see the sidebar of this page for more information).

Answer 2

I am currently a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While many go to college worried about gaining weight (such as 15 pounds) during their freshman year, it is not the same for everyone. There are many ways to avoid gaining weight during one's first year of college. The link below has great tips on avoiding weight gain in college. 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/freshman-15

Comments

To write a strong fact-check, it's best to include supporting evidence that either shows the claim is true or demonstrates why it is false. Tips on how to avoid weight gain is great, but it isn't relevant to the exact claim that gaining 15 pounds during your first year in college is real. Also, don't forget to add a rating (see the sidebar for more information).

Answer 3

The freshman 15 concept is a myth. Freshman in college are able to control their eating habits and exercise goals. They have access to dining hall options and grocery stores on campuses. This claim does not apply to all people who start their freshman year of college. This concept is based off of fear and not fact. Most people gain a few pounds, but not everyone will gain 15 pounds.

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/the-freshman-15-is-a-dangerous-myth

Comments

You included a strong explanation and provided a source link. For future fact-checks, please add a rating, such as "false, misinformation" in this case.

Answer 4

The freshman 15 concept is not real, but is just commonly known because it can happen to a large group of people by coincidence. It is just a problem with a shift in lifestyle and depends on the person to adapt accordingly. I have many friends, including myself, who have lost weight in their freshman years simply because the food was unappetizing and our schedules did not allow a lot of free time for eating. On the other hand, some of my friends did gain the classic freshman 15, but it centered around other issues like high school athletes not being as active when not in college athletics.

Rating: Not entirely true

Comments

Nice job including a rating and explanation, as well as your personal experience. However, strong fact-checks involve digging deeper and finding sources (legitimate media outlets or academic research) that back your answer and rating.

Answer 5

As a third year dance major in college I would say it depends. My schedule consists of a consistent concept of exercising nonstop so even though I was gaining weight at times from my eating habits, I quickly burned it off or turned it into muscle. So it depends on the person and diet. 

For years, incoming college students have been warned about the dreaded "Freshman 15" – the extra 15 pounds that so often accompany the first year at college. But is this a myth or reality? Truth be told, it's a bit of both. The bad news is that many college freshmen can expect to gain weight. 

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-myth-or-truth-the-freshman-15

Comments

Your fact-check includes an explanation, personal experience, and a source link. The only thing missing is a rating (see the sidebar for more information).

Answer 6

I do not think this is a fact and simply a phenomena that happens as college students move away from home and start living a new (often unhealthy) lifestyle compared to earlier. It may happen due to eating dining hall food or due to more exposure to alcohol.

Comments

To write a strong fact-check, it's best to include a clear explanation, supporting evidence that either shows the claim is true or demonstrates why it is false, as well as a rating.

Answer 7

I just now know that there is the concept of Freshman Fifteen, which really fits me when I just entered college last year, but I only gained 7 pounds a little. One of the reasons this happens is not having a good balance of school and homework with social life and the gym.

Why The Freshman 15 Is Real (theodysseyonline.com)

Comments

Nice job including an explanation, source, as well as your personal experience. However, strong fact-checks involve digging deeper and finding sources rather than blog posts, which you used. Legitimate media outlets or academic research that back your answer and rating would make for a stronger fact-check. Don't forget to add a rating next time (see the sidebar for more information).

Answer 8

The concept of Freshman 15 is something that means that people come into Freshman year and gain 15 pounds. However, over time this concept has been clearly debunked as instead freshman lose weight because of their active lifestyle and modern ways of connectivity. In fact, "[a] study at Auburn University found that only 5% of freshman gained 15 pounds their first year."

Link: https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-myth-or-truth-the-freshman-15#:~:text=For%20years%2C%20incoming%20college%20students,can%20expect%20to%20gain%20weight.

Comments

Nice job including a clear explanation, data from the Auburn study, and a source link. Well done. Don't forget to add a rating to your fact-checks (see the sidebar of this page). For this one, it could be "false, misinformation."

Answer 9

The Freshman 15 is not a scientifically proven concept, but rather a result of unhealthy lifestyle choices and eating behavior. Minimal weight gain in freshman may contribute to increased snacking, decreased physical activity, or larger meal portions. Research shows that while a little weight gain is normal, males tend to gain more weight than females during freshman year. Since obesity is a major problem in the United States, it is difficult to confirm through studies if the Freshman 15 is actually a risk factor during this time period.

A survey was issued to a random sample of freshman through the NCHA. About 50% of students gained an average of 7.5 lbs. There was also a weight loss average of 7.8 lbs. One-third of respondents experienced neither. There was also no correlation between weight change, race, or ethnicity. The average weight gain for the entire group was 2.7 lbs. Therefore, college freshman do gain weight, but nothing as extreme as the Freshman 15.

I found this information in a journal of the National Library of Medicine, in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2532948/

Answer 10

Freshman 15 is primarily a myth that tends to evoke fear in freshman college students. This phenomenon stems from freshman who tend to gain a little weight due to alcohol consumption and unhealthy meals. Research shows that students, on average, gain 2-5 pounds during their first year, but rarely it is 15 pounds. Oftentimes, dorm food is considered gross, which leads college students to eat less because they can't make their own meals during the day. 

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/the-freshman-15-is-a-dangerous-myth