College Students' Weighty Choices Bring Obesity to Forefront

Unhealthy eating habits are one just one of the contributing factors in the rising rates of obesity among college students.

Special to Capital News Service

More than one-third of American adults, about 35.7 percent, are obese today, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2010, Maryland's obesity rate was 27.1 percent and it failed, along with every other state, to meet the "Healthy People 2010" goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15 percent, according to the CDC.
A trip to Italy that involved eating horribly and drinking excessively for 10 days straight right before college ruined his high school health transformation. He finally got back on track with "Insanity," a set of DVDs of an at-home workout combining long spurts of maximum-intensity exercise with short periods of rest, designed to burn lots of calories. He was on track to get back into shape -- but then he began college.
"I gained 25 pounds. That number just came to me over spring break (of this semester)," said Winsor, from Olney. "I got really mad at myself. I started tracking all of my food and working out religiously with Insanity. I've already lost 12 pounds since spring break started."
Winsor now is committed to maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.
"Letting all the hard work that I had done go to waste just bothered me internally," Winsor said. "The intrinsic motivation didn't really come until now. It's not really about what anyone thinks -- it's about getting in the best shape I can for myself and being as healthy as I can be for myself."
"I knew that obesity was becoming a huge epidemic in America and I just didn't want to become a statistic," said Butta, from Baltimore County. "At the same time I felt like I wouldn't do or couldn't do things that my friends would do. I wanted to be as normal as someone who is 6 feet 7 inches could be."
"There was that point during that first semester I was here when it really wasn't a chore anymore, it was a daily routine to go and workout," Butta said. "I was just like, 'This is really something I want to keep up for the rest of my life,' where I feel weird if I didn't work out that day."
And then there's the pressure...
"A lot of times when we're stressed we may forget about making time for ourselves," said Schmitt, who also works as a dietitian for Livelyte Medical Weight Management in Annapolis. "I think that contributes a lot, particularly when it comes to nutrition -- having that stress-eating, making those convenient choices when it comes to eating versus the healthy ones."
"Everyone's heard about the 'freshman 15,'" and I've seen it firsthand being on the cheerleading team here. When a lot of freshman girls come in," he said. "It's a huge party scene and you just start drinking and when you move out of your parents' house your parents aren't overlooking what you're doing, what you're eating."
Levi said college is an opportunity to develop healthy habits.
Staying healthy through diet and exercise should become a priority for college students, experts say. "Weight loss really comes down to calories in versus calories out, so it's finding that balance of spending calories through exercise and limiting your calorie intake with your food," Schmitt said.
It doesn't mean you have to give up everything - moderation is the key. Merrihew, who morphed  from a couch potato to five-time Iron Girl finisher (The nationwide Iron Girl events include  5 and 10 km. runs, half marathons, duathlons and triathlons) recommends that students always think about ways to "balance high-fat foods with healthy selections."
Kylis recommends seeking professional help and friends' support.
"If they've come to the point where they're severely overweight, or even obese, then they need someone to talk to," said Kylis, who also teaches several group fitness classes focused on cardio and strength training. "To let them know what they're doing that's good, what they're doing that's bad, what they need to change and what they need to do to maintain their health and their weight."
Embracing these habits in college is critical, and may help stave off obesity related illness -- diabetes and heart disease -- later.  Even baby steps will help.
"There are little things that you can do, like if you have study breaks, make them walking study breaks," Levi said. "Stand up from time to time, walk around the block, leave the library -- whatever it might take to be more physically activity and to be much more conscious about the food choices you make."


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