The New College Student Analysis

While being in college, students struggle with maintaining a stable health level as they’re furthering their education. Immediately as one is off to college and being submerged into an entirely new environment, they’re forced to adapt to self-dependency. The new college student is changing after having the guidance of their parents, where they were told what to do and when to do it. When a new student arrives at college, they are obligated to do everything on their own. This new-found, independent young adult is facing a new world, ultimately altering their health entirely.
A key component of a college student, or any students, life, is having a complete breakfast. Stress-filled students constantly miss out on a meal or two while being too focused on academic or personal responsibilities. While some upcoming students fear the “freshman fifteen” (gaining weight through the consumption of

healthy foods), the idea of malnutrition is a more serious risk. Studies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University show that students, as much as fifty-nine percent, have high levels of food insecurity (limited access to foods). Food is no longer a top priority as their agendas are full of classes, work, and studying. The lack of getting these proper meals are causing not only current health issues, but also nutrition deficiencies and mental health negativities (Aspa).
In the event that students are both stressed and lacking sleep, the mental state of the students are being deteriorated. According to the University of Michigan, about sixty-nine percent, of students in the past have reported a day where they had faced an academic impairment as a result of emotional difficulty. Numerous surveys and studies have shown that countless freshman say they are “frequently” depressed. While facing these emotional struggles, students often turn to the easy access to drugs and alcohol to ease their stress. As a many as forty percent of students report that they use binge drinking as a coping mechanism for their depression and stress. In the past years, the levels of anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues have become remarkably higher (Henriques). Although many do not see it as a significant problem, mental health has become one of the most critical issues that people have to face. But there is ways to overcome these issues such as, improving their health and wellness in general, live a more self-directed life, and strive to achieve their full potential. These factors will help improve mental health and also help many college students to maintain a level state of mind.
With the idea of becoming more dependent on alcohol and other substances to cope, the student’s entire lifestyle is altered.

This frequent drinking not only leads to an academic downturn, but a fall to the person’s mental health state. After this constant consumption of alcohol appears, the concept of obtaining an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is very high. This AUD can lead to an increase in depression, memory loss, and possibly death. While also having a decline in health and weight due to alcohol consumption, the students do not participate in physical activity. A professor of health and wellness, Douglas K. Miller, presented that plenty of college students do not get an expressive amount of exercise per week. In a student’s freshman year, they could face a large weight gain after being overwhelmed with new experiences and stress. Adding onto that weight gain and stress, they do not have the time to partake in exercising. Excluding themselves from this vital activity, has the student missing out on the opportunity of reaching higher grades and the lack of social

bonding.
Briefly, a student’s health level is ultimately the result of stress. A student’s lifestyle; including sleep, eating, and mental aspects all have a crucial role in the well-being of the person at hand. Many believe that college students are either too lazy or not applying themselves, which is not the case. While having to focus on studying and academic matters, it is hard for the student to have to time to improve themselves. To have student’s health at a forefront, you must also have to put the leading factor as to why these things are happening.