College students generally have very poor diet habits. They eat too much junk food and they eat sporadically, eating a huge breakfast (or no breakfast at all) before classes, and then cramming as much food as they can in during their lunch break. Faqs.org reports that "college students have little variety in their diet and often turn to high-fat snacks. A common error is underestimating serving sizes, meaning they often eat more than they think they are eating." The website also reports that an estimated 10 percent of college students have more than 15 alcoholic drinks a week. These drinks are filled with empty calories and help contribute to a worsening diet.
As a result of this overeating, many students will put on 15 or more pounds during their first year of college, a trend called the Freshman 15. These first 15 pounds are often just the beginning of a big weight gain that many college students have difficulty stopping. The unhealthy diet habits of the last four years can become lifelong habits, instead of just a four-year lapse of diet control. This can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart problems and other health issues later in life.
Many of these students will then turn to fad diets to lose weight. The Triangle calls the word "diet" a "four-letter word" and says that "anybody can go on a low-calorie diet, fad or otherwise, and lose weight. But the problem is, usually we can't maintain that low level of calorie intake, and as soon as we stop eating at that low level, it comes right back." Many college students fall into these fad diet cycles. They'll lose weight, go back to their original diet, and quickly gain back all the weight. This kind of up-and-down weight loss is unhealthy for the body and the heart. Most fad diets cut out a certain important part of your diet, and leave you eating very poorly as a result.
There are many reasons that college students have these kinds of dietary habits. One of them is a lack of money. College is inordinately expensive, and even though financial aid can help cover these expenses, students often don't have a lot of money left over to live. Eating healthy can be expensive. "The Panther" newspaper of Prairie View A&M University, reports that "Findings in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicate that many high energy-dense foods are not only the least expensive, but also most resistant to market inflation." As a result, cash-strapped college students turn to these unhealthy foods. A lack of time also makes it difficult for college students to eat healthy. The full-time student usually has 12 to 16 hours of class per week. These classes are often spread throughout the day sporadically, leaving little time for the college student to cook. Then there are the college cafeterias. Many of these are of the "buffet" variety, where students can pick whatever they like and eat as much as they want, leading to rampant overeating.
It can be really hard for college students to avoid these habits. They are simply the easiest ways for them to eat, and breaking the cycle of poor diet can be expensive and time-consuming. It's important to have a balanced diet. Instead of grabbing that extra slice of pizza at the cafeteria, grab an apple and an orange. They'll have fewer calories, but much more nutrition and provide more energy. Drink water instead of soda. Water is free, and this can help students on a tight budget. Don't buy high-calorie ramen noodles--buy whole-wheat spaghetti and low-fat sauce. Try to cut back on drinking as well.