UNC eating-disorders expert: The 'freshman 15' is only a 'freshman five'

Dr. Cynthia Bulik

“It’s like a smorgasborg on a cruise ship,” said Cynthia Bulik, PhD, director of the Eating Disorders Program at the UNC School of Medicine and professor of nutrition at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

All-you-can-eat dining halls, along with changes in exercise habits, have been blamed for the “freshman 15,” a reference to first-year students’ tending to gain weight.

But Bulik said recent research suggests that the average student gains only five pounds in the first year of college. And a 2008 study published in the journal Health Psychology found that male students who gain weight generally do so because of an increase in muscle mass.

“You want to go into college as healthy and robust as you possibly can,” she said.

Once they get to college, young people are confronted with a new group of peers to whom they can compare themselves. For students who are already concerned about their weight, that can trigger or worsen an eating disorder, Bulik said.

In response to that phenomenon, members of the Tri Delta sorority founded an annual “fat-talk free” week, which takes place each October. The program raises awareness of the negative effects of “fat talk,” which includes comments such as “You look great. Have you lost weight?” and “She’s too fat to wear that swimsuit.”

“That’s the kind of thing that anyone can get involved in or start,” Bulik said of the program.

Dr. Eliana Perrin

In the meantime, it’s important for every student to remember the healthy eating habits they learned growing up, said Eliana Perrin, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics at UNC School of Medicine and alumna of UNC’s public health school. That means plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain breads, lean meats, and foods that contain calcium, such as dairy products and green, leafy vegetables, she said.

Exercise, too, is critical.

“Even just a daily brisk walk with a friend can be a wonderful study break and really helps you re-energize,” Perrin said. “It’s important for everyone to stay active, particularly through stressful times.”

Other tips for healthy eating at college

As much as possible, maintain a regular meal schedule. “Your body really loves predictability and regularity,” Bulik said. And avoid midnight pizza: “Those extra meals really add up,” she said.

If you find yourself piling your dining-hall tray with food every meal, try making what Bulik calls “a plate-less reconnaissance mission.” Before you get a tray, look around at the food available. Then make a decision about what you’ll eat and stick to it.

At the same time, “remember that who you are is so much more than your body,” Bulik said. “Don’t think that your success in college either academically or socially is just related to your weight and shape.”

Most colleges provide help to students with eating disorders. At UNC-Chapel Hill, students can call a Campus Health Services registered dietitian at 919-966-3658 for individual appointments. And if you notice that a roommate or classmate has an unhealthy relationship with food, “be a friend and get them help,” Bulik said.