alcohol, a big potential calorie source, Connie Diekman, a registered dietitian and former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says.
Diekman spent years working with college students as director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis.
She says that one of the biggest challenges for students is the lack of a consistent schedule.
“In college, classes are at different times throughout the week, making mealtimes, activity schedules, and even sleep schedules all different,” Diekman adds.
That can make it hard to set an exercise routine and it can also foster less-than-ideal eating habits — like going long stretches without eating, then overindulging when mealtime comes around.
How to prevent college weight gain
Diekman’s advice to students is to set a daily schedule — sticking to specific routines around meals and snacks, exercise, course work and sleep.
She also suggests that freshman take their first few weeks on campus to explore different options for exercise.
“Each week, check out one new recreation class or activity club so that after the first month you can decide what would be your best choice,” Diekman says.
For students who need help with healthy eating, she notes that many universities offer some kind of nutrition counseling or classes.
When it comes to exercise, habits do form early in life. Yli-Piipari says kids who truly enjoy being active are more likely to keep it up as they grow older.
“If they value exercise in their lives,” he says, “they’ll be motivated to seek out opportunities for it in college.”
The National Society of High School Scholars has advice on staying healthy in college.