The Health of College Students Essay -- college meal plans

Rob Geis, a current college student, explains, â€Å"A student is not at fault for unwanted weight gain. It is the college meal plans that cause the gain in weight. Many colleges require incoming freshmen to be on a meal plan† (Geis). Parents like the meal plans because they know their child is getting meals every day, but the plan does have its downsides. Geis believes that many students do not eat three meals every day. â€Å"If we don’t eat every meal we are given, we are wasting our money which was used to buy the meal plan. So, it is either gain weight or waste money† (Geis). This may cause the family of the student to get upset. The parents may reduce the student’s meal plan for the next year, which would make the student eat less. The student may then be at an unhealthy weight. This could cause tension between the student and his or her family. Students face physical and mental problems, and they need strategies to optimize their health. A student’s overall health in college involves many aspects. The physical health of a student plays a major role in his or her health. First, according to Malinauskas et al., â€Å"The ‘Freshman Fifteen’ could be considered an epidemic†. In a recent study conducted by Jung et al. and Whyshak explain that 90% of college students have heard of the â€Å"Freshman Fifteen† (qtd. in Carithers-Thomas et al.). A student can keep a healthy weight if he or she knows that knowledge. Also, a student may help his or her friends in keeping a healthy weight; eventually, lowering the average weight gained in college. In another study conducted by Graham and Jones, they report 59% of college freshman gain weight in his or her first year of college (qtd. in Carithers-Thomas et al.). This could lead a student to ... ...g/ehost/detail?sid=5fa0dcd2-8360-492c-9f47-06bd2115521b%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=121&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=51456646>. Merianos, Ashley, et al. "The Impact of Self-Esteem and Social Support on College Students' Mental Health." American Journal of Health Studies. EBSCOhost, Oct. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. . Dineley, Johnson. "College Health 101: How to Stay Healthy on Campus." Nation's Health. EBSCOhost, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. . Orender, Michael. Instant messenger interview. 23 Apr. 2014.