College is a fantastic time to make new connections, try new things and exercise independence, but without a well-developed plan, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy weight.

A recent study conducted at Auburn University tracked college students’ weight gain from their freshman to their senior year. The study found that 70 percent of participants saw a difference in weight. Within the four-year time frame, males packed on an average of 15 pounds, and females gained an average of 9.3 pounds.

The Freshman 15, commonly used to describe the abrupt weight gain that occurs for many students transitioning from high school to college, can be avoided with proper planning.

Sweet summertime has finally arrived. Whether they’re enjoying a Texas beach or river, traveling, exercising outdoors or just relaxing by the pool, many students will find themselves soaking up the sun in the great outdoors this season. When enjoying time outdoors with family and friends, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 million Americans are susceptible to heat-related illnesses annually,  including dehydration, which can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Complications from these illnesses contribute 675 people on average to the annual death toll.

Students belonging to a national bone marrow registry organization at UH have caught attention with their success.

Be the Match is a bone marrow registry of potential donors for people with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. For many living with those diseases, a bone marrow transplant is the only lifesaving option, and more than 70 percent cannot find a donor match within their own families.

The organization is making it easier for college students to learn about the organization and how they can contribute to the cause. The UH chapter has registered more than 1,500 donors since its inception.

The organization accepts bone marrow donations, financial donations and blood cord donations.

The Be the Match chapter at UH was founded last fall to reach out to the diverse students on campus.

From New Year’s to Spring Break, the motivation to stay fit has been lurking since the beginning of 2014, and the season to flaunt all that hard work and dedication is quickly approaching — summer is practically here.

April has arrived and the semester is coming to a close, which means finals are just around the corner.

Students are starting to encounter the beginning of a chain of stressful days. Feeling extreme stress can lead to overlooking regular exercise routines and developing unhealthy eating habits — both of which can be counterproductive to retaining the information students will study.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, learning and retaining information can be affected by physical activity, and maintaining regular exercise routines is important. Even fitting in a brisk walk for 15 to 30 minutes can benefit brain activity.

Celebrations bringing in the New Year have come and gone. For many, reflections of 2013 were exchanged with renewed outlooks and resolutions for the year to come.

With the new year came many New Year’s resolutions — among the most popular ambitions being the desires to trim down and live a healthier lifestyle. However, as the beginning of the new year becomes a more distant memory, it is easy to get sidetracked and lose track of the “new year, new me” mentality.

According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 8 million adult Americans live with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or attention deficit disorder.

ADHD can have substantial effects on a student’s life from elementary school and even through college. Coping with the effects of the disorder can become difficult as a person advances socially and mentally.

The flu is a contagious respiratory infection that can spread easily on a college campus. Close living quarters, auditoriums crowded with students, shared dining halls and study spaces, including the library and classrooms, are just a few of the places a virus can thrive.