It is common knowledge that many young people maintain poor dietary habits, especially while studying in college. New research now shows that these habits could result in health problems years or even decades after graduating.
Junk Food
The new multi-site study, which was carried out by a team of international researchers, focused on probing the links between eating habits and diverse illnesses. Findings hinted at unhealthy eating habits during post-secondary studies playing a part in future health problems, including obesity, depression, and respiratory illnesses.
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This research, led by Dr. Shihui Peng of the Jinan University School of Medicine, was reported in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports.
Poor eating habits among students
College students are among the groups of people who are more likely to indulge in poor dietary habits. The diet of a typical student is high in calories and sugars. Low budgets and time constraints often make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet.
There are many studies showing how these kinds of diets can cause serious problems to the health of a person.
“We know many students consume high-calorie meals along with sugary foods and drinks, and there is lots of evidence to show those kinds of eating behaviours can lead to obesity,” said Dr. Joan Bottorff, a professor at the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan, who was involved in the study. “These are not the only habits that lead to obesity, but they are important and can’t be ruled out.”
According to Dr. Bottorff, many unhealthy eating habits begin at post-secondary schools and carry on for decades. She noted that there’s evidence of anxiety and stress causing overeating, and vice versa.
Eating habits and health outcomes
This study involved nearly 12,000 medical students spread across 31 universities in China. While it could not confirm cause and effect, it did support the existence of a relationship between poor dietary habits, obesity, and respiratory issues.
The research team observed that students’ poor eating habits may not only cause or worsen respiratory problems but also infectious diseases, including diarrhea and colds.
“There has been biomedical research that also supports this link between obesity and infectious diseases, and most recently this has been related to COVID-19,” Dr. Bottorff noted.
Researchers have observed that obese people are more likely to suffer from COVID-19. This, they thought, may be a result of impaired breathing from extra weight pressure as well as poorer immune and inflammatory responses.
The point, as per Dr. Bottorff, is not to ignore the risk that students’ diet choices may pose to their health in the future. She suggested a need for students to be guided on healthy eating habits during their studies. Post-secondary schools should also consider providing all students with healthy yet affordable food.
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The UBCO School of Nursing professor admitted, however, that some schools were doing better in regard to providing students with healthy foods, compared to about five years ago. At UBCO, food-insecure students can access a food bank plus a meal share program with minimal difficulty. The school’s Food Services team partners with a certified dietitian and uses organic ingredients to prepare meals.
References
Peng, S., Wu, D., Yang, T., & Bottorff, J.L. (2023). Does obesity related eating behaviors only affect chronic diseases? A nationwide study of university students in China. Preventive Medicine Reports. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102135
