Gaining weight is something most women have to face in their first-year of college. This bulging of the belly is called “The Freshman 15” – the long-standing belief that women gain an average of 15 pounds as freshman.

Betsy Reynolds, a registered dietician and professor of nutrition and weight management disputes this idea and calls it “The Fake Freshman 15.”

Reynolds quoted a new study by Cornell University stating that the actual weight gain is a mild four to six pounds.

City College offers a course to mitigate any unwanted weight gain by putting the focus back on healthy eating and fitness.

PE 177 is in its second year as a one-unit course with a semester requirement of 36 hours. “It is the best kept secret on campus,” Reynolds said. Students are encouraged to attend classes on eating right and work out in the Life Fitness Center. The idea behind the class is a dual approach combining healthy food and exercise.

Reynolds notes that not all of the students who take the class need to loose weight.

She encourages all students to set their own goals and provides feedback over the course of the semester. “The definition of results is really having a healthier relationship with food and your body,” Reynolds said. “Results are not necessarily weight loss.”

According to the study, weight gain is attributed to the new sedentary lifestyle of studying and immense stress that leads to unhealthy food choices and overeating. But, the study cites alcohol as the biggest contributor to weight gain.

Reynolds said she favors the Mediterranean style of eating. She tries to demonstrate for students how this culture of eating good oils, whole greens, colorful fruits and vegetables, fish and legumes is beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight.

One student said that the course was having an affect on her. “I don’t pick up Snicker’s Bars as fast as I used to.”

Reynolds said that girls eat for emotional reasons to deal with sadness, loneliness, boredom or avoidance. “Eating is a symptom of other problems,” she said.

The class also includes tips for managing stress, and developing coping strategies. “I would like the meetings to be longer than one hour,” said Suzanne Naha. “We can’t get through all of the information, particularly the discussion of emotional eating.”

-Jonathan Ziegler is a Journalism 101 student.