Students who bought new outfits for school in summer might find them fitting a little snug around the waste come fall.

Itâs called the ãFreshman 15ä ÷ the 15 or more pounds freshman typically gain when coming into college.

ãYou find freshman weight gain in every university irregardless of their food choices or their cafeteria,ä said Lynne Smiley, worksite wellness coordinator for UA Life and Work Connections and former Campus Health Service clinical nutritionist.

The ãFreshman 10ä or ãFreshman 15ä is just a name for weight gain that happens for a variety of reasons when students come to campus, Smiley said.

The cause can be lack of sleep, beer drinking, womenâs taking birth control pills for the first time or overeating, she said.

The weight gain seems to affect students who move into residence halls and not those who live with their parents or in apartments off campus, said Smiley, who did her dissertation on the phenomenon.

One reason could be sleep.

Studies have shown that in both men and laboratory rats, sleep deprivation leads to an increased appetite, Smiley said.

Men gain the weight, but donât mind it as much as women, Smiley said.

And then comes the diet.

Lisa King, M.C., a mental health therapist at Campus Health who specializes in eating issues, said that one of the most common problems she sees is an unbalanced diet, in which students weed out particular food groups, like fats or carbohydrates, from their diets in order to lose weight.

This can lead to poor concentration, sluggishness and a general lack of energy, King said.

The most important thing is variety.

ãIt can be really easy to just take whatâs available; you could order a pizza every night, but you should be sure to supplement your diet with what you need,ä King said.

This doesnât necessarily mean consuming something from every food group all in one meal, King said, but to just make sure that throughout the day that you get the nutrients you need and ãthat you get all the categories of food ÷ proteins, carbohydrates, fat and fresh fruit÷things that are harder to find, but well worth finding because they will keep your energy up.ä

Pulling all-nighters can also be bad for the body, nutritionally.

When staying awake all night to study, or for social activities, the body compensates by eating more, and this can cause students to put on weight, King said.

There are over 25 eateries across campus.

For students who donât want to eat out all the time, the nearest grocery stores to campus are Fryâs at 555 E. Grant Road, Safeway at 1940 E. Broadway Blvd., and Albertsonâs/Osco Drug at 2854 N. Campbell Ave.

Smaller gourmet stores such as Time Market Deli and Pizza (444 E. University Blvd.) and Rincon Market (2513 E. 6th St.) are also nearby.

Staying energized and maintaining your weight

Eat when hungry, stop when full. Seems simple, but this could make a big difference.

Plan for and purchase handy foods to carry with you during the day, whether they make a whole meal, are add-ons to food you buy at a Student Union or are snacks. Get some baggies and pack your book-bag ãstashä the night before. An insulated lunch bag frees you to also take refrigerated items. Some good choices are:

baby carrots

cereals, to eat dry

deli meats

fresh fruit

green or red bell peppers

nutrition bars or drinks, 200 calories with 7 or more grams of protein

nuts and soy nuts

oatmeal

popcorn, low fat

sliced cucumbers, with low-fat ranch dressing for dip

soups, ready to eat, with beans or lentils for protein

string cheese, part-skim mozzarella, cottage cheese or low-fat cheese slices

sugar-free hot chocolate

tea, herbal

trail mix (make your own using nuts, dried fruit, cereal, pretzels, etc.)

tuna

whole grain bread, crackers

yogurt, 1% or fat free

When eating at the student unions, reduce the fat and improve the nutrition by regularly using a few of the ideas below.

Source: Campus Health Service Web site, ãNutrition tips for busy studentsä