I read this piece early this morning, and it put me in such a good mood! I can't wait to read her new book!

I can't forget how estrogen, body fat and disease are linked, because I have an estrogen-sensitive autoimmune disease.

I've learned to detect the warning signs of a flareup, and I've discovered that gaining a little extra fat around the middle can act as a trigger for my particular illness.

But if you don't mind the extra disease risk, sure, go ahead and be radical and celebrate that extra fat!

What an empowering article! As though anyone in the US needs encouragement to get fat.

Women are now empowered by everything they do, including bulking up on dorm cafeteria carbs.

The Onion had it right:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38558

We might keep in mind that a lot of that "Freshman 15" could be attributed to much drinking and the eating of fatty fast food the next morning/early afternoon (nothing went down better for me than a Wendy's Chicken Club and a Cherry Coke). Only thing that saved me from gaining lots more weight was my lack of a car, and attendant need to walk everywhere.

I didn't read the original article so I don't really know what it's celebrating, but I'd say that we PROBABLY shouldn't be encouraging ANYONE to binge drink and then gorge on fast food. Not that I didn't have a good time doing it...

And another thing--I noticed when I was teaching in graduate school that my freshman male students tended to mature physically between their freshman and sophomore years--they gained weight, yes, but also grew a little in height and just generally filled out. They didn't look heavier so much as more adult. The girls, OTOH, were already mature, so when they gained weight, it really was extra fat. I think it's simply the difference in rates of maturation that make the "Freshman 15" more of a chick phenomenon.

I don't think anyone should be preaching self-indulgence as a way to truly ‘experience’ college.

My freshman 15 quickly turned into 30. All-nighters, snacks in between class in order to keep a sugar high, and coffee all-day-round were part of my college experience and it showed round my belly. And all that compounded with the pressure to have a perfect body, to be athletic, and to excel academically. Getting healthy habits takes more than buying a pair of Manolos, it took more than a year to learn to eat right and get a regular sleeping schedule. And I still go back to my old habits whenever I allow myself (this is not lack of self-control, it is conditioning… I lived this way for 4-years).

Everyone’s college experience is different, right? For me it was not a party, it was tool to shape my future. More people should approach this ‘experience’ that way. You have time for experimentation when you get out of college and are paying for your own lifestyle.

Weight gain after the age of 18 is a risk factor for many diseases, including breast cancer:

"ATLANTA - The amount of weight a woman gains after age 18 is a strong signal as to whether she will get breast cancer later in life, according to new research released Wednesday by the American Cancer Society.

In one of the largest studies of weight and breast cancer to date, researchers said older women who gained 20 to 30 pounds after high school graduation were 40 percent more likely to get breast cancer than women who kept the weight off.

The risk doubled if a woman gained more than 70 pounds, said Heather Spencer Feigelson, senior epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society.

“Breast cancer is strongly dependent on body weight,” Feigelson said. “Even modest amounts of weight gain lead to a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.”

Weight gain and body mass have long been known to be risk factors for breast cancer."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4374471/

I don't really see anything to celebrate here. 20+ pounds (15 is close to 20) increases breat cancer risk. And the earlier you put it on, the harder it will be to take off, and the more you are likely to keep putting it on.

It's almost deplorable that Broadsheet is celebrating starting gaining as much as 15 pounds the first year after high school.

This op-ed made very happy. Finally, some perspective! People tend to think any weight gain is a bad thing, always. And it's not necessarily so bad to think that, considering the preponderance of obesity in this country. Yet it's really not quite so slippery a slope from gaining a few to having a health risk, especially when the gain is based on a lifestyle change (rare estrogen diseases aside). People tend to leave college after 4 years, and their lifestyle will most likely no longer support the extra 15. I gained about 10 pounds freshman year, but was luckily too distracted with everything else going on (personally, academically, socially) to pay it much heed. It was a unique time of freedom from obsessing about one's appearance as compared to others. It was also a problem that solved itself. I found that as soon as I didn't have a dining hall to graze from, and was in charge of preparing my own meals, it was much easier not to overeat (unless you overshop and overcook). So, big deal! I appreciate this op-ed reminding readers that things tend to even out, and some temporary weight gain will not tip the scales forever. Moreover, it's hardly the most significant aspect to being at college.

I wonder how much obsessing about the Freshman 15 actually leads to weight gain. Americans are not fat because we don't worry enough about being fat, that's for sure. There's plenty of evidence that dieting leads to weight problems because it tampers with our physical and emotional make-up. I do wish my students (especially women) would come to class a little more excited about being in college and a little less anxiety-ridden about their appearance. It would be a more fun experience for all involved. If I could only convince them that thinking burns calories.