■ OPINION “Freshman 15” another myth When si u den Is first enter this vnst. nlmn and competitive land we call college, they worry about classes, finding their way around campus and the city, meeting people they can relate to and. if they are concerned about their weight and body image, gaming the "Freshman 15". One of the ancient myths about college life is that you have no choice hut to gain 15 pounds during your freshman year And with all of the atten tion given to bodies — their shape, size and health — by the media these days, it is hard to ignore such rumors In a 1991 survey of college women — 74 percent of who were normal weight — H7 per cent said they were unhappy with their weight. 45 percent wore on diets and 29 percent reported that since entering col lege. they had tried to lose weight by fasting or going on crash diets Does this sound healthy to you? The last thing these women need to hear is that they will inevitably gain weight during their first year at college. So when young minds should be investing in their intellectual futures, many end up spending too much time worrying about how much they weigh It has been shown through studies that eating disorders are prevalent on college campuses The majority of population studies examining buletnia, self induced vomiting after binge eating, are conducted at institu tions of higher education One such survey showed that 19 percent of all college women and 5 percent of college men ful fil! the criteria for bulemia If students read articles like "Avoiding the Freshman 15 some tips and tru ks" (t )I)K Sept 19), they will gain valuable information about nutrition, but may feel like they have to com Tvsha Eichensehek mit significant energy trying to prevent themselves from gaining weight All you have to do, if you're already in good health, is continue to eat like you always have. The buffet style dining in the dorms could be a cause of errat ic eating behaviors An unlimited amount of sal ad. mashed potatoes, green and yellow jello, bagels, chicken nuggets. Pepsi, brownies and roast land c an bo overwhelming The system works in such a way that you pay one price to eat as muc h as you can. Therefore, the less you lake, the more money you lose My solution is a meal plan allowing each student an allot ted amount of money each term to spend on items which are individually priced and are available at places other than the dorms, like the Fishbow l This way students won't have to feel like they must take in as much food as they can when the i afeteria is open in order to avoid getting hungry later Fating disorders and the importance placed on lining "fat free" plague the entire nation Television and magazines bring us images of supermode! waifs like Kate Moss and women in bikinis advertising Hud Light. One might gel the impression that these are some of sot ioties most valued i itizens Although causes of eating disor ders such is bulemia and anorexia hove roots much deep er than changing your eating habits during college betutu.se of myths, dormitory cafoterias and the media, these things don't help hating disorders < an lie nttrih uted more to psychological problems law self-esteem and the need to feel that you can control something in a world of c haos, whether that world be at school, in your social circ les or in a fain ilv situation, .ire .it the heart of eating disorders When you walk around cam pus for the first time, should you assume that a tree will fall on you; when you go to vour first college-level class should you assume that your professor will sexually harass you' No Then why should it he assumed that you will gain weight your fresh man year? Maybe you miss home, or people in other plac es Maybe you are worried about sue < ced ing academically or just making it to your H am class on a Thursday morning Whatever is on your mind, college c an be very stressful And because the idoa of being thin and fit is emphasized everywhere you go. eating is a very popular coping outlet When you can't confront problems you have socially and academically, preoccupy your mind with the thought of food and controlling your eating, even though your current diet suits you fine. Had idea Instead, write in a journal, watch a movie, go to the Satur day Market or take a hike ride by the river Please, don't let food i onsumu you There is no sue h thing as the "Freshman 1 > " And there is no such thing as a perfect Ixxh Now go. eat, drink, (study) and lx* merry! inslui Etthensehrr is a reporter lor the Emerald "Pizza Pipeline. 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