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More than a quarter of students at university put on up to 2st (28lb) in ‘fleshers' flab’, according to new research.By the end of their university career, nearly two-thirds of students that gained weight had put on between 1st and 5st (14-70lb).
A culture of stress, drinking, and unhealthy eating were the main culprits in putting on weight, according to a recent survey.
Students reported relying heavily on convenience foods, takeaways and fast food, with almost half of those questioned admitting eating convenience foods up to five times a week
More than half of students reported drinking alcohol at least three times a week, with around three per cent boozing every night of the week.
Two thirds of those surveyed describing their eating habits at university as ‘quite unhealthy’ and a fifth described them as ‘very unhealthy’. Students reported relying heavily on convenience foods, takeaways and fast food, with almost half of those questioned admitting eating convenience foods including ready meals and pre-prepared sauces up to five times a week.
Six in 10 said they had takeaways or fast food meals between three and five times each week. Only a third ate fruit or veg once a week or even less.
More than half of students reported drinking alcohol at least three times a week, with around three per cent boozing every night of the week when at university
TOP TEN REASONS WHY STUDENTS GAIN WEIGHT AT UNIVERSITY
- Eating unhealthily because of stress
- Post drinking/night out eating or snacking
- Binge drinking/nights out
- Pressure to fit in
- Didn’t see weight or healthy as a priority when you were a student
- Food available in university canteens/halls of residence
- Feeling down about being away from home
- Didn’t have the knowledge or skills to cook healthily
- Lack of support available
- Didn’t have the facilities to cook
Around 15 per cent said they would have been challenged to make scrambled eggs on toast, and 5 per cent couldn’t even prepare cheese on toast.
Busy student social lives and tight budgets were also blamed.
The biggest influences on food choices were cost, ease and speed of cooking with only 10 per cent of people saying they even considered their health when deciding what to eat.
Meanwhile, 59 per cent described eating healthily on a budget as either ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’.
Almost all of those questioned said that students needed help to learn how to eat healthily on a budget and 94 per cent said they’d like to see healthier food available at universities.
Two thirds of those surveyed describing their eating habits at university as 'quite unhealthy' and a fifth described them as 'very unhealthy'
The research, conducted by Slimming World, surveyed 1,055 current and former students who are all now Slimming World members.
‘It really isn’t surprising to see that many young people gain weight when they head off to university,’ said Slimming World’s Head of Nutrition and Research Dr Jacquie Lavin.
‘Moving away from home to study means lots of them become responsible for their own eating habits for the first time in their lives, and they don’t always have the skills or motivation to cook the same healthy meals they may have enjoyed at home.
‘Add to that the busy social scene and often tight budget and it is even easier to understand why young people struggle to maintain a healthy figure.’
Dr Lavin said that it doesn’t have to be that way, adding that healthy eating can be as simple as cooking favourites like beans on toast and topping it up with tuna and sweetcorn.
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