By Kendal Furman (Assistant Editor-in-Chief)
As college students, it’s perfectly acceptable to reach for the occasional packet of ramen or to pick up a second (or even third) cup of coffee on the way to class. However, when students begin to turn to nutritionally deficient foods on a daily basis, poor eating habits can easily become a problem, opening the door for us to become malnourished.
Malnutrition occurs when an individual’s diet is not nutritionally adequate, leading to a wide range of short- and long-term health issues. Malnutrition can occur if someone has an unbalanced diet, or if they eat too much or too little. In order to prevent malnutrition, it is important for individuals to consume the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommended levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, protein, calcium, and other essential vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. In short, consistency is key.
For college students in America, malnutrition is especially common. One study found that, among college freshmen surveyed in the US, the majority of students surpassed the recommended dietary guidelines for added sugar, refined grains, sodium, and saturated fats–all of which should be limited in a healthy diet. Additionally, as of 2020, 29% of students attending a four-year college in the U.S. had experienced food insecurity within the past month. So, why is malnutrition so prevalent among college students in America, and what can be done to stop this epidemic?
To start, college kids are naturally pretty busy. Stress levels and fatigue run high as students scramble to turn in their assignments and jam-pack their brains full of information (that they’ll likely forget in a week’s time). This busy lifestyle can prevent us from practicing healthy eating habits, as we lack the time or motivation to make deliberate and informed decisions about our food consumption. Additionally, chronic stress can actually have a biological impact on a person’s body. Stress can affect sleep, causing students to reach for more caffeine to stay awake and productive during the day. High stress levels have also been linked to increased cravings for sugary, fatty, or generally non-nutritious foods. Given this link between stress and poor food habits, it makes sense why malnutrition is so common among college kids.
Another factor that influences nutrition is a person’s income. Notably, poverty creates financial constraints that enable the consumption of cheap, nutritionally deficient foods that spike energy levels but lack essential vitamins and minerals. College kids are infamous for being broke, oftentimes opting for crappy dining hall food or cheap freezer meals to save money. With astronomical (and ever-increasing) tuition, housing, and food costs, it makes sense why students (especially low-income students) choose food that is cheaper, and consequently less nutritious.
Furthermore, many college students are forced to adhere to their university’s dining plan, which often serves unbalanced and nutritionally deficient meals in order to increase profits. One study focused on South Dakota State University found that 85% of available dining hall meals were considered unhealthy (according to American Heart Association guidelines), also pointing to similar findings from studies conducted at other schools across the country. With few healthy options to choose from on typically mandatory dining plans, it’s no wonder why college students struggle to consume balanced meals.
Finally, a lack of nutritional literacy among college students also contributes to high rates of malnutrition among this population. Another study found that, despite 72.5% of participants having taken a nutrition course before, a general lack of knowledge and practice of proper serving and portion sizes remained, with most students consuming more of nearly every nutrient than is recommended. The same report denotes that, while 70% of college students surveyed noticed a product’s nutrition label, only 24% of participants actually used this information. With students not understanding and implementing nutrition education into their daily lives, it makes sense why the rate of malnutrition among us is so high.
Keeping in mind these factors that make college students more susceptible to malnutrition, it’s important to understand how nutritional deficiency can manifest itself. Malnutrition can lead to significant weight gain or loss, the development of mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, or extreme fatigue, as well as tiredness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Furthermore, an unhealthy diet can weaken an individual’s immune system, stunt their growth, and even affect their intellectual development. With such vast and damaging effects, it’s essential for students, universities, and the government to take action and curb the amount of malnutrition present in collegiate environments.
First, there is a need for more comprehensive and available health promotion and education programs targeting college students in particular. Programs teaching students about important topics such as nutrition labels, essential nutrients, portion sizes, and even cooking need to be more common and accessible, as they can provide a solid foundation for college kids to learn how to be self-sufficient, have a healthy diet, and avoid malnutrition. Additionally, a solid education is nothing without proper access to healthy and nutritious food. Therefore, it is imperative that colleges (I’m talking about you, GW) provide a wide range of food in their dining halls that are high-quality, affordable, and filled with essential nutrients. Finally, the implementation of more food pantries, specifically located in or around universities could help to decrease the large percentage of college kids suffering from malnourishment by bolstering students’ access to healthy foods that don’t break the bank. All in all, it’s important for us as students to understand malnutrition, its manifestations, and its effects in order to educate ourselves and push for influential change that can improve the health outcomes of all students on campus.
