According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 16.4 million Americans were expected to be enrolled in college in 2003. One problem faced by many incoming college students is weight gain. The problem has been dubbed by some as the "freshman 15," referring to the 15 pounds of weight gain in the first year of college. Studies show that while some students do gain as many as 15 pounds, the average first year gain is 6 pounds for men and 4.5 for women.

There are many reasons for weight gain among college students. College dining halls offer a wide array of food choices not all of them healthy. Freshmen who are suddenly faced with multiple dining options and as much food as they want may not necessarily pick the healthiest foods. Sometimes foods are chosen because of personal preference. In other cases, students may not be aware of good nutrition choices.

Many college students dislike facing morning classes and prefer to sleep-in. But that also means missing breakfast. So there's a great temptation to skip the dining hall and grab high calorie foods, like donuts and cookies, for a late morning meal.

Snacking and partying are often important parts of the college culture. Late-night snacks and party foods tend to be high in fat, salt and calories and low in nutritional value. Alcoholic drinks and sodas quickly add on extra pounds. Also, some students eat to deal with feelings of stress, anxiety or homesickness.

In addition to dietary changes, college students may not be quite as active as they were in high school. Students living on campus often have only a short distance to walk to classes. Those further away are likely to have access to a car or school transportation services.

While a few extra pounds doesn't seem like a big deal, the weight gain can have some serious consequences. College students are establishing lifestyles and eating habits. Weight gain of a few pounds a year, poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle can quickly contribute to obesity. Overweight adults are at increased risk for many health problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

The Balance™ Mind, Body and Soul Program Sodexho, a North American food management corporation, provides meal services to many of the colleges in the U.S. Last fall the company began offering a new wellness program, called Balance™ Mind, Body and Soul. The program aims to educate college students about nutrition, fitness, and wellness and enable diners to select from a range of healthy food choices.

New students are given a packet of information about the importance of nutrition and fitness. There is a menu and a description of four different healthy food options in the dining hall. Well-balanced foods are low in calories, fat, salt and cholesterol. Vegetarian foods are those that meet lacto-ovo vegetarian standards. The meals may contain milk and/or eggs, but exclude meat, meat products, seafood, fish and poultry. Vegan foods contain only plant-based ingredients. Carb-friendly items contain 20 grams of carbohydrates or less. All foods in the dining hall are clearly labeled by category.

More than 6,000 recipes have been developed to ensure good nutrition and taste for the dining choices. Foods are prepared fresh and use seasonal ingredients. Students also have access to a website where they can get information about the recipes or submit a question to a dietitian. In addition, new students are given a pedometer and encouraged to use it to monitor and increase physical activity by counting their steps.

Sodexho offers the Balance™ Mind, Body and Soul program to all of the 900 college campuses it serves in the U.S.

Information about the Balance™ Mind, Body and Soul program can be found at http://www.balancemindbodysoul.com/

For general information on establishing healthy eating habits: American Dietetic Association, http://www.eatright.org KidsHealth, http://www.kidshealth.org