Entering college brings the inevitable stress of a heavier workload, diverse social dynamics and newfound independence. But for many young people, their first year is also burdened by fear of gaining dreaded extra pounds known as the “freshman 15.”

Seventeen magazine popularized the phrase in a 1989 article about how to fight weight gain in your first year of college, portraying the added pounds as an inevitable struggle. But the story’s headline was written to grab attention, not to educate the public on a legitimate scientific finding. In spite of this, the alliterative and catchy expression prompted an epidemic of fear amongst students, greatly stigmatizing the natural body changes most individuals experience during their transition to adulthood.

Other colloquial phrases to refer to this weight gain often appear in a vaguer and slightly more realistic way. In Australia, these terms include “first-year fatties” and the “fresher five,” referring to a gain of five kilograms. In the United States, “freshman 10” was first used to describe typical first-year college weight gain, appearing in a 1981 New York Times article describing child actress Jodie Foster’s first year at Yale University. As time passed, this figure appeared to increase over time in response to rising national body weights. 

Prior to the Seventeen article, the only medical research analyzing weight gain among first-year students was a 1985 study on female first-years. This study concluded that subjects gained an average of 0.73 pounds per month — a mean of 6.57 pounds over a typical nine-month academic year.

By the late 1990s, news of the phenomenon took off. Researchers from the University of Oklahoma identified 333 magazine and newspaper articles about first-year weight gain between 1985 and 2006. Despite scholarly studies indicating that first-year college weight gain in American universities is less than the purported 15 pounds, this finding was accurately reflected in only 42% of articles. 

This proliferation of this myth incited anxiety in a population of students already vulnerable to stress, making many wonder how college life could prompt such weight changes. 

In 1992, a Los Angeles Times article about nutrition habits in college explained that university students often skip breakfast, eat light lunches and rely on a single, calorie-heavy meal at the end of the day — favoring fast, convenient foods. Under these conditions, the article states that it’s no wonder college administrators tell students that they’re bound to gain weight in their first year. 

However, unhealthy food choices aren’t the only contributors. This article failed to mention the large role that increased alcohol consumption plays in college students losing their high school figure. Between multiple papers and long reading assignments, many college students also end up putting their sleep on the back burner — disrupting hormonal balance, increasing appetite and altering metabolism — all of which also contribute to weight gain. 

Amid this transitional period between childhood and adulthood, moderate weight gain is expected. Many young adults transition from a more active lifestyle, such as participating in daily school sports, to more sedentary routines, making it harder to regularly burn calories. Metabolism also naturally slows down, and natural hormonal shifts occur as the body ages. 

In essence, the “freshman 15” phrase is rooted in truth about young adult weight gain, but it overestimates the extent. This exaggeration conveys a message that deliberately influences and instills fear in an impressionable, body-conscious audience.

It’s not inherently negative to try maintaining a balanced diet and staying active in college, but when the motivation for doing so is grounded in intense fears about gaining weight, these behaviors can become dangerous. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia tend to peak between ages 16 and 20, and in many cases, restrictive eating and purging behaviors are accompanied by compulsive or excessive exercise.

In a society that already demonizes weight gain and puts high pressure on women, especially, to maintain thin figures, college students become obsessed with chasing after their younger physiques. But the significant lifestyle changes students endure in college often make this pursuit unrealistic and frustrating. 

Beginning college brings young people enough stress as it is, and frightening them with exaggerated fears about their bodies only makes it worse.