A poor diet in college can lead to lifelong poor health

It is common to see young people who enjoy eating high calorie microwaveable foods or sugary drinks at convenience stores in college areas. If you don’t stop unhealthy eating habits after graduation, it can lead to lifelong health problems.

According to an international research team, including the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) in Canada, poor eating habits established during college can contribute to later health problems, including obesity, respiratory problems and depression. The findings came from a research project involving nearly 12,000 medical students from 31 universities in China assessing the link between eating habits, obesity and various diseases.

“Poor eating habits that many adults develop during college persist for decades,” said Joan Botov, a professor in the UBCO School of Nursing. Because it leads to obesity,” he said.

“There is evidence that stress and anxiety can lead to overeating, and overeating can also lead to stress and depression,” he said. “Importantly, these risk patterns among young people in college should not be ignored.” “The type of food that college students eat is linked to obesity, which can lead to chronic disease as well as other health problems related to infectious diseases,” he added.

Professor Feng Sihui from Jinan University in China, who led the study, aimed to establish a clear relationship between poor eating habits and infectious diseases, including cold diarrhoea. However, Professor Botov noted that due to the nature of the study, a causal relationship could not be shown. On the other hand, he said, “The relationship between poor eating habits, obesity and respiratory disease is well documented.”

“Studies have supported a link between obesity and infectious diseases, most recently with COVID-19,” added Botov. Various studies have shown that obese people are more likely to have severe symptoms and consequences related to the coronavirus. This increased vulnerability is due to breathing difficulties, inflammation, and reduced immune responses due to the weight of excess body weight.

The researchers said it’s important to recognize that the stress of college life and the lack of healthy food options can have a profound effect on students. Attention is drawn to the fact that universities should ensure that there are healthy food options in restaurants and vending machines so that students can choose healthy foods.

The study was published in Preventive Medicine Reports. The original title is ‘Do obesity-related eating behaviors only affect chronic diseases? A national study of university students in China’.