As students all across the country flock to college campuses this month, The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading authority on fitness and one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world, today revealed its top ten fitness and nutrition tips for remaining in good health for the 2009 school year. A study published this year in Nutrition Journal shows that nearly one in four freshmen gain at least 5 percent of their body weight, an average of about 10 to 15 pounds, during their first semester. But as ACE points out, this weight gain can be avoided through healthy habits such as eating right and staying active.
"The 'freshman 15' is no urban legend, but a real, physical occurrence that shouldn't be taken lightly," says ACE's Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. "The transition from high school to college affects young adults on many levels - including fitness habits and personal health choices. The combination of environmental and behavioral changes that takes place during one's freshman year can easily serve as the catalyst for weight gain, but by making smart decisions about diet and exercise, students can avoid weight gain and even become more fit."
The following represents ACE's top ten tips for avoiding the "freshman 15":