Physiological Effects
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear."
- Buddha
Everything we do has a huge effect on our daily life, whether it is eating, sleeping, or working.
As a college student, you have a responsibility to take care of your body for all of your hard work to be worth it in the end.
Learn about the different effects that college has on you and how to manage it efficiently.
Weight Fluctuation
The prevalence of overweight double from high school to higher education, but majority were still normal weight and not considered a health risk. Have you ever heard of the term "Freshman 15"? This is the belief that students in their freshman year typically gain about 15 pounds.
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A study was conducted by Mihalopoulos et al. (2008) to see if there was any truth to this and what they saw was that half of the student participants did gain weight, but only about - on average - 2.7 pounds. Around 15% of them lost weight and men gained more than the women. Their conclusion was that freshmen year college students gained weight 5.5 times greater than the average population.
In the Deforche et al. (2015) article, both genders decreased their sport participation and increased their internet time, which related directly to weight gain. There were less people watching tv or playing video games than there were people using the internet or studying. Surprisingly, there was no major changes in dietary behaviors.
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Just keep in mind that this is absolutely normal and you shouldn't let this discourage you!
OBESITY
Obesity is a significant health problem among college students. The prevalence of obesity in college students has been increasing in recent years due to various factors, such as unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyle, and high-stress levels. College students face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight. They may have limited access to healthy foods, lack time to exercise, and high levels of stress due to academic and social pressures. Additionally, college life often includes unhealthy behaviors, such as binge drinking, late-night snacking, and sedentary activities.
The effects of obesity include risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as decreased quality of life and increased healthcare costs.
Unhealthy foods
College students may have limited access to healthy food options or prefer fast food, processed foods, and sugary snacks, often high in calories, fat, and sugar. Unhealthy foods are low in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals, contributing to nutrient deficiencies and harmful weight gain.
Alcohol consumption
College students may excessively drink, triggering weight gain and obesity. More than half of underage drinkers consists of binge drinking (Brown & Sencer, 2017). Alcohol can disrupt the body's metabolism, which leads to decreased fat burning and increased fat storage. It is also high in calories and can contribute to consuming more calories than the body needs.
Stress
College students may experience high-stress levels due to academic demands, social pressure, and financial constraints, bringing about emotional eating and unhealthy coping mechanisms. College students often have erratic sleep patterns, disrupting their metabolism and leading to weight gain.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Many college students spend lots of time sitting in lectures, studying, and socializing, resulting in a lack of physical activity. A student living a sedentary lifestyle has reduced energy expenditure. Physical activity helps burn calories, and a lack of physical activity means fewer calories are burned.
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There are multiple health risks associated with prolonged sedentary behavior. The article written by Park et al. (2020) provides an in-depth overview of all the different potential health effects that comes with this lifestyle. Including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and many more.
Physical Activity
All the health concerns listed above can be improved by any form of physical activity. Even if you don't want to lose weight or change your body, exercise can still better your health tremendously. ​The "Fat but Fit" paradox argues that physical fitness can actually lessen the negative effects of overweight / obesity. There are even studies that present an obese individual who is active is healthier than a normal weight individual who is not active at all.
There are different types of exercises you can do to fit your preferences. Some think you need to do weight lifting, cardio, or a combination of both to be able to be fit. However, low-intensity workouts such as yoga or pilates also help you stay healthy. Obligations such as walking your pets or biking to school are counted as physical activities.
As a college student, it can be difficult to find the time to fit a workout into your schedule, but all you need is to set aside 30 minutes, 5 days a week for any activity. Even just jogging in place! Once you start and get into a routine, you would start to feel good and healthier.