Older students face weight gain

Most college students have heard of the "freshman 15," the dreaded weight gain generally associated with a student's first year of school. However, once a student has racked up two or more semesters of college, it doesn't mean they're immune to weight gain.

A phenomenon known as the "junior 15" is alive and well at many campuses, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Ashley Callahan, a junior elementary education major, said she was able to avoid putting on weight her freshman year by staying active and going to the Campus Recreation Center regularly. However, moving off campus and "not running as much" led her to gain about 10 pounds during her sophomore year.

Many upperclassmen are vulnerable to the "junior 15," or as Karen Miller, a registered dietitian at the University Health Center and the campus rec put it, the "junior jump."

Miller defines the junior jump as the shift when a person turns 21 or the increase in weight a student may experience during his or her junior or senior year of college.

Unlike the freshman 15, the junior jump is not openly discussed, but upperclassmen weight gain is common.

One of the more obvious culprits of this weight gain is alcohol. Miller encourages students to check alcohol calories. Many people forget about the calories that come from beverages and assume they don't count, she said. Unfortunately, they do. Miller recommends safe drinking behaviors and consuming light beer and wine instead of other higher calories options.

"I gained weight right off the bat," said Greg Grosse, a senior broadcast production major, of his first few months as a legally drinking adult. He said he overall gained about 16 to 20 pounds.

But after awhile, Grosse cut back on alcohol and lost much of the weight he gained. But simply cutting back on the booze may not be enough.

Another, sometimes more detrimental source of weight gain associated with alcohol consumption comes from drunken binges on often unhealthy foods. Miller advises students to "be honest" about alcohol and the "munchies" that often accompany a few drinks.

So seven beers and three Amigos soft shell tacos still count — even if it is a Saturday night.

But drinking is not the only contributing factor in the junior 15. Changes in activity level, eating patterns, diet and stress can all cause upperclassmen to pack on the pounds.

Miller advises students who see weight gain to assess what has changed and log food consumption as well as activity levels.

Miller also pointed out that UNL has many resources for students who need help managing their weight. From her services to fitness classes, personal trainers and the Rec Center, students have somewhere to go for help, she said.

katiecunningham@dailynebraskan.com