cmcole
08-28-2006, 11:11 AM
When will it end? Nobody accepts responsibility for their poor choices - they find something else to blame for their problems.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/8131752p-8024213c.html
Warning: College can make you gain weight
This story was published Monday, August 28th, 2006
Parents know there's a lot to discuss before letting their fledglings fly off to college for the first time.
Reminders about the dangers of drugs and alcohol top the list, of course, and there are practical tips like not mixing darks with whites when doing the laundry.
And who can resist adding these instructions: Answer phone messages and e-mails from parents immediately. And never forget a college education costs a fortune, so study hard.
But there is a college phenomenon not every new student knows about, and they should be warned before they ever set foot in an-all-you-can-eat dining hall.
It's called the Freshman 15, and it's real.
Actually, college officials say it's more like the Freshman 5 or 7, but it's still a problem.
The numbers refer to the pounds many freshmen gain in their first few months at college.
Recent high school graduates, finding themselves released from family dinners, discover a huge variety of food choices in the college cafeteria that can lead to extra pounds very quickly if they aren't careful.
Snack foods, pizza, soda pop and coffee can become their main diet. With irregular schedules and quick foods more available, a number of students end up developing unhealthy eating habits while away from home.
Some colleges and universities around the country are starting programs to help guide students toward better food choices.
Duke University, for example, offers an interactive nutrition workshop for freshmen with eating problems. It includes tips for quick, healthy meals in the dorm and how to eat the right way in the dining halls.
This is a great idea and should be part of every college freshman's orientation, no matter where they attend.
Ideally, parents should teach their children healthy eating habits while they still are at home. But according to national statistics, that doesn't seem to be happening as often as it should.
The percentage of children and teens who are overweight and obese is higher than ever before, according to the American Obesity Association. Poor dietary habits and inactivity are the awful combination contributing to their increased weight.
The obesity association also cites statistics that 30.3 percent of children ages 6-11 are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese. For adolescents in the 12-19 range, 30.4 percent are overweight and 15.5 percent are obese.
If these same overweight kids don't have a good understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet by the time they get out on their own, trying to change their eating habits later as adults will be even more difficult.
Over the last few years school districts nationwide have been trying to improve their lunch programs by offering less junk food and more fruits and vegetables.
In fact, the Washington State Legislature passed a law in 2004 requiring school districts to adopt a nutrition and fitness policy, in an attempt to improve school lunches statewide.
While college students aren't children and should be old enough to make healthy food choices, the fact that many gain weight the first year away from home indicates otherwise.
Colleges and universities who haven't addressed this problem ought to consider if there are any changes to their dining hall systems that might help freshmen make better food choices.
Obesity and excess weight are among the top health problems in America. Mothers and fathers need to do their part and teach healthy food habits when their children are young. But when the kids leave home, it would be a comfort to know a parent's efforts weren't being sabotaged by college dining halls offering a variety of foods high in fat and sugar.
More universities ought to find a way to offer a support program to guide freshmen toward healthy eating habits, like at Duke University. At the very least, college officials should look at their dining hall offerings to see if they could improve nutrition.
Entering college is an exciting time for teens to live on their own without parental supervision. They just need to make sure they don't gain extra pounds along with their new-found independence.
So parents, take a minute and warn your college-bound kids about the Freshman 15. You'll be giving them a better start.
© 2005 Tri-City Herald, Associated Press and other wire services. http://nmtricity.112.2o7.net/b/ss/nmtricity/1/G.5-Pd-S/s93404382464697?[AQB]&ndh=1&t=28/7/2006%2013%3A39%3A41%201%20150&pageName=Print%3ATri-City%20Herald%20--%20Warning%3A%20College%20can%20make%20you%20gain% 20weight&ch=Opinions&server=Print%3ATri-City%20Herald&c1=http%3A//www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&c2=html&c3=Story&c4=tricityherald.com%20FTP&c6=TCH%7CHER%7CNews%7CLocal&pid=Tri-City%20Herald%20--%20Warning%3A%20College%20can%20make%20you%20gain% 20weight&pidt=1&oid=javascript%3AopenWin%28%27http%3A//www.tricityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&ot=A&oi=602&g=http%3A//www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&s=1280x1024&c=16&j=1.3&v=Y&k=Y&bw=604&bh=629&ct=lan&hp=N&[AQE]
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/8131752p-8024213c.html
Warning: College can make you gain weight
This story was published Monday, August 28th, 2006
Parents know there's a lot to discuss before letting their fledglings fly off to college for the first time.
Reminders about the dangers of drugs and alcohol top the list, of course, and there are practical tips like not mixing darks with whites when doing the laundry.
And who can resist adding these instructions: Answer phone messages and e-mails from parents immediately. And never forget a college education costs a fortune, so study hard.
But there is a college phenomenon not every new student knows about, and they should be warned before they ever set foot in an-all-you-can-eat dining hall.
It's called the Freshman 15, and it's real.
Actually, college officials say it's more like the Freshman 5 or 7, but it's still a problem.
The numbers refer to the pounds many freshmen gain in their first few months at college.
Recent high school graduates, finding themselves released from family dinners, discover a huge variety of food choices in the college cafeteria that can lead to extra pounds very quickly if they aren't careful.
Snack foods, pizza, soda pop and coffee can become their main diet. With irregular schedules and quick foods more available, a number of students end up developing unhealthy eating habits while away from home.
Some colleges and universities around the country are starting programs to help guide students toward better food choices.
Duke University, for example, offers an interactive nutrition workshop for freshmen with eating problems. It includes tips for quick, healthy meals in the dorm and how to eat the right way in the dining halls.
This is a great idea and should be part of every college freshman's orientation, no matter where they attend.
Ideally, parents should teach their children healthy eating habits while they still are at home. But according to national statistics, that doesn't seem to be happening as often as it should.
The percentage of children and teens who are overweight and obese is higher than ever before, according to the American Obesity Association. Poor dietary habits and inactivity are the awful combination contributing to their increased weight.
The obesity association also cites statistics that 30.3 percent of children ages 6-11 are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese. For adolescents in the 12-19 range, 30.4 percent are overweight and 15.5 percent are obese.
If these same overweight kids don't have a good understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet by the time they get out on their own, trying to change their eating habits later as adults will be even more difficult.
Over the last few years school districts nationwide have been trying to improve their lunch programs by offering less junk food and more fruits and vegetables.
In fact, the Washington State Legislature passed a law in 2004 requiring school districts to adopt a nutrition and fitness policy, in an attempt to improve school lunches statewide.
While college students aren't children and should be old enough to make healthy food choices, the fact that many gain weight the first year away from home indicates otherwise.
Colleges and universities who haven't addressed this problem ought to consider if there are any changes to their dining hall systems that might help freshmen make better food choices.
Obesity and excess weight are among the top health problems in America. Mothers and fathers need to do their part and teach healthy food habits when their children are young. But when the kids leave home, it would be a comfort to know a parent's efforts weren't being sabotaged by college dining halls offering a variety of foods high in fat and sugar.
More universities ought to find a way to offer a support program to guide freshmen toward healthy eating habits, like at Duke University. At the very least, college officials should look at their dining hall offerings to see if they could improve nutrition.
Entering college is an exciting time for teens to live on their own without parental supervision. They just need to make sure they don't gain extra pounds along with their new-found independence.
So parents, take a minute and warn your college-bound kids about the Freshman 15. You'll be giving them a better start.
© 2005 Tri-City Herald, Associated Press and other wire services. http://nmtricity.112.2o7.net/b/ss/nmtricity/1/G.5-Pd-S/s93404382464697?[AQB]&ndh=1&t=28/7/2006%2013%3A39%3A41%201%20150&pageName=Print%3ATri-City%20Herald%20--%20Warning%3A%20College%20can%20make%20you%20gain% 20weight&ch=Opinions&server=Print%3ATri-City%20Herald&c1=http%3A//www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&c2=html&c3=Story&c4=tricityherald.com%20FTP&c6=TCH%7CHER%7CNews%7CLocal&pid=Tri-City%20Herald%20--%20Warning%3A%20College%20can%20make%20you%20gain% 20weight&pidt=1&oid=javascript%3AopenWin%28%27http%3A//www.tricityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&ot=A&oi=602&g=http%3A//www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-printer/story/8131752p-8024213c.html&s=1280x1024&c=16&j=1.3&v=Y&k=Y&bw=604&bh=629&ct=lan&hp=N&[AQE]