College students aren’t exactly known for their healthy lifestyle choices, but you may want to make time for a quick workout between those two classes instead of taking a nap. While the “freshman 15” may be a myth, a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that students graduate college an average of ten pounds heavier than they started, according to Science Daily.
The study, conducted by the University of Vermont, showed a “concerning weight gain” among college students over their four years at school. At the beginning of the study, 23 percent of freshmen were overweight or obese. By graduation, that percentage climbed to 41, an alarming increase of 78 percent. Only 15 percent of the students completed their goal of 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week.
Obese adolescents are at a higher risk of health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They’re also more likely to be obese after the age of 30, when obesity leads to a score of health concerns which include a doubled mortality rate.
“This study and earlier ones suggest that college students are prone to weight gain that can impact their health in the present and even more significantly in the future,” said Lizzy Pope, the lead author of the study.
