Top Five Struggles for College Students

Academic success isn't the only goal for college students. College years are also a great time to develop positive health and nutrition habits. Whether it’s late night pizzas or crazy schedules, most students encounter challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle in college. So, to all of you midnight snackers, and 24-7 studiers, you’re not alone. Here are some of the most common struggles students face.
1. Negative Body Image: “I look so fat today!”- Your perception of how your body looks forms your body image. Many people have skewed body images, which can affect their self-esteem, relationships, eating behaviors and fitness levels. In college, students are under a lot of pressure to look good to be accepted by peers. The pressure is even greater if they’re living with other students in Greek houses or dorms. In these group living situations, there’s no escaping the “Yuck! Look at my thighs!” comments. This negativity can make students self-conscious about their own body, even if they never worried about it before.
2. Lack of Time: Whacky Schedules- College life is most likely very different from the routine students used to have. At home, it was probably easier to eat at regular meal times, sleep at regular hours and have a pretty normal routine. Now, class schedules change all the time, students are all too familiar with all-nighters, and many students have to juggle academics, friends, family, work, and extracurricular activities. Having class during meal times is also a common problem. Active college students need to eat at least every four hours. Students who skip meals suffer from a drop in blood sugar levels. This causes energy, concentration, and mood to drop as well.
3. Absence of Physical Fitness: Not a Fan of the Gym- Hate the gym? Not a runner? Don’t have time to exercise? Changes as simple as walking or biking to class instead of driving or taking the bus make big differences. Exercise, even just a bit of it, is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is an important way to reduce stress, improve your mood, and even give you energy. And let’s all be real, with the amount of work that goes into a college degree, that extra energy is needed.
4. Poor Diet: The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Line at the Cafeteria- When students get to college they are often overwhelmed by all the dining choices available. They no longer have Mom cooking well-balanced meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In college it is even more important for students to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies and be careful not to over-indulge, because they have no one telling them what to eat. Students become victims of the vending machines in the dorms, the chocolate cake in the dessert line, and the Pizza Shuttle after the late-night drinking.
5. Not Enough Z’s: No One is Getting Their Eight Hours- Most college students may think they are nocturnal; however, it is very important to get enough sleep. The average person needs about 8 hours a night, and college students are no exception. There may be so much to do once you get to college that you find you are not getting enough sleep. A lack of sleep leads to students feeling more stressed, or depressed. They can also have a hard time staying awake and concentrating in class. And finally, a lack of sleep leads to the body’s immune system not being strong enough to fight off germs, so students will catch colds and minor illnesses easily.
So just remember, you’re not the only one on campus who has struggles when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Grab a buddy and encourage each other to start making some small changes. It’s never too late to start building healthy habits.