Chardoneé Wright — Staff Writer
Ladies, how many times have you tried to squeeze your legs into a pair of your favorite jeans? You know what I’m talking about; the jeans that you’ve had for years! Yet, now it seems like either the jeans shrunk or some extra weight has somehow managed to sneak up on you.
More than likely, it’s not the jeans’ fault but our own. I remember being able to slip into anything and everything I tried on while I was in high school. Well, that was five years ago. Now, I am more conscious of the clothes I buy.
When I first graduated from Career High School, I was warned about the popular “freshman 15” antics. I always thought to myself that I would never gain 15 pounds in college. Contrary to my beliefs, I was wrong. I did gain the weight, but it wasn’t a big deal for me. Yes, I can’t fit into some of my favorite pants from a few years ago, but I don’t beat myself up because of a few extra pounds.
With the many food options that college cafeterias offer on a daily basis, it can be difficult to eat healthy all the time. Not to mention the pizza, Chinese, and other fast food restaurants that are quick to give us discounts and other advertising schemes to lure us in. I began to ponder how healthy college students are. Yes, you have the campus athletes who stay fit, but what about the average commuter or student who lives in a dorm? Are we really as healthy as we think we are?
According to consumeraffair.com, college students as a whole are not the healthiest. Inactivity and meals that are high in sodium and sugar are common problems that college students face. These poor eating habits can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, just to name a few. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire conducted a study of 800 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. They found that 60 percent of the males had high blood pressure, and more than two of the women were not meeting basic nutritional needs such as folate, iron and calcium. The experiment consisted of questionnaires about the students’ alcohol consumption, smoking, eating habits, fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking habits.
Researchers concluded that sometimes students feel they are invincible to these types of diseases and illnesses, until it is too late. Unfortunately, I agree with that conclusion. As college students, sometimes we live in our own little bubble, wanting to do what we want and eat what we want, when we want it. This is not everyone’s general mentality, but if you have a drink, or grab a quick bite to eat from a fast food restaurant, we don’t really think of the damage it is actually going to do to our bodies. If we aren’t careful, these habits can get out of control, and you can find yourself in a bad place.
I want to encourage everyone reading to take time out and educate yourself on what high cholesterol and high blood sugar is. We need to know what the recommended amount of nutrients are that the body needs on a daily basis. Also, keeping up with regular health screenings is very important.
I’ve come to realize that just because it looks good on the outside, doesn’t mean it’s not ugly on the inside. If we can grasp onto the idea that poor eating habits can lead to heart disease and other fatal illnesses, change can come. Now, indulging in your favorite food here and there isn’t so bad. Yet, if it’s a daily ritual, and your body isn’t getting the necessary nutrients recommended to function properly, it is time to reevaluate some things. Everyone is different, so your best bet is to find out what works for you.
