Freshman 15 Challenge(1805-6)

　　对于许多大学新生来说，大一那一年似乎是体重增长相当疯狂的一年，到底是心宽体胖，还是学校伙食太好？

Freshman 15 Challenge

　　Wendy Moses had heard the tales before settling in (适应新环境) as a university freshman but never imagined it would happen to her. The girl, however, found herself face to face with the so-called Freshman 15. It’s a tendency of students to put on up to 15 pounds when they first go off   to (动身前往) college. Whether a fact or folklore remains an open question, but the Freshman 15 becomes a living, breathing reality.

　　As an interesting phenomenon at university, the Freshman 15 depends on the school and individual. Usually, a school’s culture can be a factor in whether students will gain weight. For example, at Texas Woman’s University (德州女子大学), you’ll see every size and shape of woman. But at a place like Southern Methodist University (美国南方卫理公会大学), there are more social pressures to be thin.

　　Whether it is 15 pounds or not, people on college campuses say it is common for some students to gain considerable weight during their first year. It’s like a transition time. It’s not just the stress of college. For the first time, students have to do their own laundry and get their own meals.

　　In addition, some students fret about the financial burden their schooling places on their families. Others worry about their social lives, wondering who their new friends will be and how they will fit in (融入新群体) on campus. Such radical changes can lead some students to feel blue. When they feel bad, they go for comfort foods, which are often laden with fat and calories.

　　Food at college residence halls also has been blamed for freshman weight gain. Colleges and universities are generous in the fare they offer. There is such a variety of food offered. A lot of kids put on weight because they eat differently than they did at home and they eat more.

　　For her part, Moses has remained philosophical about her weight gain. “Everyone is weight-conscious, but everyone gains the Freshman 15,” she said. “I gained the weight, and I know I can lose it.”