Some students just need to have something in their hand so they'll look and feel like they're fitting in. If you must have something in your hand, try water or seltzer. Stress Kathy Hubbert, M.S., a registered dietician and coordinator of the EatRight program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, offers a fourth reason for freshman weight gain. They have new responsibilities, like paying rent, doing their own laundry, buying groceries-and without the support of their parents. That first year can be a very stressful time.
Stress is often the reason most people impulse eat as opposed to only eating when hungry.
But Hubbert insists that students can cope with the added stresses of being on their own by first, recognizing that their living situation is going to be different from home and second, by getting as organized as possible. College is also supposed to be fun. Have a plan. Know when your tests are and when you need to study. Organization can help keep stress at a manageable level.