Your college years are some of the best years of your life: a fresh start complete with new friends and a sense of personal freedom that wasn’t there before. Not to mention the all-you- can-eat food at Residential Dining, a snack during study time, the TV-show marathon you can watch on “Netflix” with a bowl of popcorn until 2 a.m. and the promise that you will use the gym tomorrow. All things that add up to one thing for a Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) freshman: weight gain.

We’re talking about the so-called “Freshmen 15,” as coined by “Seventeen” magazine in it’s August 1989 issue.

“The ‘Freshman 15’ is a complete and utter myth,” said Jeffrey Bell, SMSU Assistant Professor of Exercise Science.

“Recent research by Ohio State University says it’s closer to five [pounds gained],” Bell said. “That’s still five pounds. But, if you compare that to the average teen turning 18 or 19 years old, the average American teen not in college still gains five pounds.”

“The question is,” Bell continued, ‘”does it happen because [teens] are finally going through those last stages of maturation, or is it an addition of body fat?’”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website states that more than one-third of the United States—34.9 percent—is obese. In fact, the CDC states that every state is at least 20 percent obese. As of 2012, Minnesota averaged a 25.7 percent obesity rate.

What does that mean?

“More calories in than calories out,” Bell explained.

“We’re talking about a five pound weight gain. Every pound is 3,500 calories,” said Bell. “So that’s roughly 17,000 calories over a year extra. Divide that out by 365 days. That’s only about 50 calories a day extra.”

What’s 50 calories? A mini 5 oz. can of V8 juice, half a granola bar or a few cherry tomatoes.

Weight gain is normal among college-age students, but the “Freshmen 15” is only a myth. Perhaps “Seventeen” magazine should rename it to the “Freshman Five.”