Like many students, sophomore Lynn Kwon heard of the dreaded "Freshman 15," the weight every student is rumored to gain during the first year of college, but didn't think it would happen to her.
And just like many students, those extra pounds sneaked up on her, until Kwon had 40 pounds more on her frame than she came to college with.
"I thought I wasn't going to gain a lot of weight," said Kwon, a political science/English double major. "When I was at home, my mom controlled my eating."
Janice Cochran, a dietician at UB's Living Well Center, stated it is common for students to gain anywhere from five to 20 pounds during their first year at college.
Easy access to vending machines and unhealthy choices in dining halls and campus eateries combined with a relatively inactive lifestyle all contribute to the trend.
Kwon said that when she noticed she had gained weight, she attributed it to the buffet-style dining areas and limited her meal plan, but admitted she still went to the late-night eateries like Hubie's in the Ellicott complex.
"When students are up late and surrounded by people a lot, they munch without really noticing," said freshman Kate Canfield. "That's not something most of them are used to doing at home."
Like many freshmen, Kwon found that the number of hours she spent sitting at the computer and sleeping increased greatly her freshman year, leading to increased caloric consumption and decreased calorie burning, and eventually added weight.
"[Students] start to sit around and eat all day," said sophomore Ben Widawsky, an intended media studies major. "The only exercise they get is when they go to class and take the bus."
Cochran stated "crazy, crazy schedules" aggravate students' poor eating habits and that too many students tend to eat on the run rather than slowing down to eat health-conscious meals.
"Bring what you want with you so you can control what you eat - plus, it's cheaper," advised Cochran.
Over the summer, Kwon adhered to a strict diet that included kong (yellow beans soaked in rice vinegar), lots of grapefruit, and only boiled meat. She also ran one to two miles everyday.
Kwon has not gained back any of the weight she lost over the summer and said she now leads a healthier life. She no longer eats in the dining halls; instead, she uses dining dollars and often cooks for herself. She advises students to walk to classes and to take advantage of the fitness facilities UB has to offer.
But unhealthy eating and an inactive lifestyle is not the only factor leading to excessive weight gain.
Binge drinking also contributes to the unwanted "Freshman 15" by adding unnoticed calories.
According to Laurie Krupski, director of the UB Living Well Center, when intoxicated, one of two changes in eating habits may occur: either a person eats nothing and only consumes empty calories or does not pay attention to what he or she is eating, and binges.
Less frequent but more serious than freshman weight gain are the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia, usually the results of "long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors," according to the National Eating Disorders Association's Web site.
Anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to simply as anorexia, is characterized by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to malnutrition and weight loss. Bulimia is binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives, also leading to excessive weight loss.
According to Cochran, while these disorders are a growing problem among men, they remain an issue primarily with women.
"People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming," according to the National Eating Disorders Association's Web site. "For some, dieting, binging, and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one's life."
Often, students develop anorexia or bulimia because of the stress of their workload and the pressure to maintain their grades during the transition from high school.
"When they don't have that certain GPA, they feel like they lose control," said Kristen Kocsis, a case manager and counselor at the Eating Disorders Association of Western New York.
Kocsis said she finds that most girls she treats for eating disorders are perfectionists. When students discover that they cannot be as perfect as they might have been in high school, they feel like they have lost control and attempt to regain it through strictly regulating their diets.
Academics are not the only adjustment that causes this feeling of loss of control.
The social changes, especially living in the residence halls where students seldom get a break from social life, also affect self-esteem.
"Being in a new environment, [girls] are going to meet those girls that look the part of the media and [they] are going to get down on [themselves]," said Kocsis.
