Story for Video Project

Survey Shows College Equals Weight Gain

By: Morgan Forester

Wake up after three hours of sleep. Grab whatever is closest and easy to eat on-the- go. Sit in class for hours. Grab another quick bite and a soda to keep you awake for another round of classes. Head back home for even more hours of homework and studying, perhaps a part time job, and finally go to sleep just hours before you have to be in class again. That’s a typical college student’s schedule. It’s long and chaotic only to get worse on the weekends when partying takes the place of classes and alcohol adds to a junk food diet. With an obesity epidemic occurring throughout America it’s time to take a serious look at how college life can lead to weight issues, poor nutrition and overall health issues.

When there are classes to get to and piles of homework to do, college students often forego the sleep they need and opt for a sugary coffee or energy drink. Whatever food is fastest and most likely to immediately boost their energy is a prime choice. Pizza, fried foods, chips, soda and candy tend to be staples in a college student’s diet. They are fast foods that can often be taken to go without much hassle and candies and soda allow for an almost instant sugar high to wake you up.

“…eating habits in this group are not great. Most don't eat five fruits and vegetables per day, and many don't get enough exercise," says Susan S. Deusinger, Ph.D., professor and director of the Program in Physical Therapy at the School of Medicine at Washington University.

Dr. Deusinger did a survey of students between the start of college and the end of sophomore year to see if the myth of the “Freshman 15” had any truth to it. The surveyed showed that “70 percent of students gained a significant amount of weight.”

The weight gain seems to be directly linked to the poor eating and exercising habits of college students. "We were dismayed a bit that these young people didn't change much in terms of their habits," Deusinger says. "They grew a little taller, but they also tended to remain sedentary, high-fat, fast-food people."

The lifestyle often lead by college students is not helping their health and with the rise of obesity in our country it is time to make healthier living a bigger focus on college campuses.

Lyndon State College is known for offering a community based college experience in ecologically aware Northern Vermont, but is also very accommodating to health and exercise needs. The college offers healthy food choices at both the Dining Hall and at the Hornet’s Nest on the second floor of the main building, Vail. There are fried food options and pizza offered at both, but there is a hot meal prepared for each meal in the Dining Hall and there is a salad and sandwich station in the Hornet’s Nest as well as fresh fruit and healthy snacks like cut veggies or hummus and pita chips for on-the-go. If you are an off-campus student and you do not have a meal plan, the cost of these meals may be concern you. However, at the Hornet’s Nest it is almost the same cost to order a sandwich as it is to get chicken nuggets and fries so choosing the healthier option won’t break the bank as it often does in supermarkets.

Finding time to exercise is not easy to come by as a college student, but Lyndon State has a multitude of ways for students to get in the suggested 30 minutes a day or more should they choose. Not only do we have a Fitness Center on campus, but we also have personal trainers available for specialized workout plans and individualized attention to help achieve better results.

Weight rooms have typically been male oriented in the past but according to Brad Collins, a personal trainer in the Fitness Center, women are taking over.

“I typically see more guys taking advantage of the LSC fitness facility, although in the past year I have notice a dramatic increase in women utilizing the facilities,” says Collins.

He also says that all of his clients so far have been women so if you are a woman thinking “I don’t want o be the only girl down there,” chances are you won’t be the only lady so get up and get the exercise you need. Not to mention, the program as well as the access to the Fitness Center is free for students and faculty and is a great way to continue exercising during winter months.

If you prefer outdoors exercise there are tons of trails to hike on both on campus and around the area. Intramural sports are pretty big at Lyndon too, and are always welcoming new members. Or go for a swim in the indoor pool and make your workout fun.

It is still up to the individual to be healthy but having these options available seems to be half the battle in fighting obesity at the collegiate level.

"There's literature that suggests if exercise options are in good proximity to work or home, people are more likely to use them," says Dr. Deusinger who also suggests that people will tend to eat what is readily available for them so rather than junk food, making healthy food more available could have an effect on college students’ eating habits. This seems to be what Lyndon State College has been working on by providing the services it does.

It’s not easy staying healthy as a college student. There are plenty of obstacles that get in the way of maintaining a healthy weight and a balanced nutrition but your health is not something to mess with. Once you gain the weight and begin to make unhealthy decisions, it is much harder to break the habit and get healthy again. Take advantage of what your college has to offer.