It's part of college folklore that incoming freshmen can expect to gain five, 10, 15 or more pounds by the end of their first year — students often call it the "Freshman 15."

When you consider that more than 1.5 million students are entering U.S. colleges and universities each fall, that potentially could mean more than 11,000 tons of additional weight added to the hips and bellies of the nation's brightest teen-agers by the following spring.

      The psychological and social reasons for the "Freshman 15."

      Practical tips for preventing freshman weight gain.