As freshmen enter college, many become concerned with gaining the “freshman 15.”

According to teenshealth.org, the “freshman 15” typically occurs during the first semester of the freshmen year of college. This is due to the “severe lifestyle change” freshmen endure when they leave home and live on their own. The common causes for this weight gain include lack of exercise, late night eating and drinking large amounts of alcohol. Many students tend to gravitate toward so-called “comfort foods” due to the stresses of school work.

One myth associated with the “freshman 15” is actually the number 15. The average college freshman is actually known to gain from three to 10 pounds.

According to abcnews.com, studies have shown that male freshmen gain on average 3.4 pounds while females gain 2.4 pounds.

Jay Zagorsky, co-author of a “freshman 15” study done at Ohio State University, said the reason males tend to gain more weight during their first freshmen semester is because of alcohol intake.

Brittany James, sociology junior from New Orleans, said she gained a few pounds during her freshman year because of the temptation of fast food.

“With all the new things that college has to offer, including food places, the excitement of being a college freshman tempts students to indulge in different foods,” James said. “There is no limit on anything you can eat here, so you gain weight.”

Females tend to gain most of their weight in areas such as the waist, stomach and breasts. Males see weight gain more around the waistline.

Exercise is the obvious answer to avoiding the “freshman 15.” Spending about 15-30 minutes doing some form of cardio is one way to shed some pounds.

Avoiding fatty foods like potato chips and burgers will also decrease chances of weight gain. Limiting alcohol intake will help lead to a healthier, fat-free college life. Alcohol consumption seems to be nearly impossible for college students to resist, but putting limits on it will help you both mentally and physically in the long run.

When eating in the cafeteria or the Student Union, try staying away from unhealthy choices. Foods such as hamburgers, sodas and fried foods should be avoided when watching out for the “freshman 15.” Learning healthy eating habits early on will follow you into adulthood and be beneficial to your overall health.

Juliana Wagner, mass communication sophomore from New Orleans, said she avoided the “freshman 15” by keeping a disciplined workout and limited diet.

“I worked out almost every day and stayed away from fries and noodles,” Wagner said.

Teenshealth.org also suggests that healthy sleeping habits play a role in maintaining weight gain. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night can be a great way to manage stress which can cut down the overeating.