Bad Habits That Contribute to Weight Gain Throughout College

The transition to college can be a very exciting and stressful time in a person's life. Stressful situations, new friends and new extracurricular activities can create an environment where weight gain is likely. This is a time when weight gain is common and is sometimes referred to as the "Freshman Fifteen." Weight gain does not result from one bad habit, but from many bad habits combined.

Overeating in the Cafeteria

• Ice cream should be a discretionary food, not a new food group.

  For most college students living on campus, a meal plan at the dining hall is included in room and board. Residence dining halls must follow guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and provide adequate nutrition to students and staff but they don't have to make the students eat it. Cafeterias also usually have self-serve ice cream machines, sundae bars and sugary cereals. Many college students turn to these sugary foods because they didn't have access to them when living with parents or because it is comforting to them. Comfort foods are usually high in fat and calories.

Decreased Exercise

• Video games can cause sedantary lifestyle patterns.

  College life is hectic and busy and many students don't find the time to exercise. Activities that have negative effects on exercise are watching TV, playing video games and spending hours on social networking Internet websites. Students also need to spend more time studying and reading which cuts into the time for physical activity. The CDC encourages 30 minutes of exercise every day to maintain a healthy weight and decrease the risks of cardiovascular disease.

Eating Whatever the Group Eats

• Pizza might taste great, but it is full of saturated fats and cholesterol.

  Roommates become a very important part of a college student's life and eating habits can start to change when influenced by others. This can lead to over-eating, eating more often than usual, and late night snacking, which can cause weight gain. Students often turn to high calorie foods, like pop-tarts and fast-food for snacks in between classes or to replace healthy meals. Eating when hungry and for energy is the best principal, but at this age it is more often a social activity. According to John Hopkins University Researchers, eating an extra 200 calories every day can lead to a gain of over 20 lbs. in one year.

Increased Alcohol Consumption

• The legal age for drinking alcohol is 21 in the United States.

  Drinking is a common activity at many colleges and possibly because many students turn 21 during junior or senior year. Alcohol has 7 calories per gram, which is higher than carbohydrates but lower than fat. This is because it is metabolized differently than both fat and carbs and has many other negative effects on the body. Alcohol also effects reaction time, judgement, temperature control and water balance. Binge drinking can end up costing just as many calories as an entire day worth of meals. Alcohol is dehydrating and hangovers almost guarantee that there will be no workout in the morning.