MSGID: 1:317/3 646ee49b   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    A student's poor eating habits can lead to a lifetime of illness    
      
     Date:   
         May 24, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of British Columbia Okanagan campus   
     Summary:   
         A researcher is cautioning that a person's poor eating habits   
         established during post-secondary studies can contribute to   
         future health issues including obesity, respiratory illnesses   
         and depression.   
      
      
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   A UBC Okanagan researcher is cautioning that a person's poor eating habits   
   established during post-secondary studies can contribute to future health   
   issues including obesity, respiratory illnesses and depression.   
      
   Dr. Joan Bottorff, a Professor with UBCO's School of Nursing, is one   
   of several international researchers who published a multi-site study   
   looking at the eating habits of university students. Almost 12,000 medical   
   students from 31 universities in China participated in the study that   
   aimed to determine the association between eating behaviours, obesity   
   and various diseases.   
      
   The point, says Dr. Bottorff, is that many poor eating habits begin at   
   university and can continue for decades.   
      
   "We know many students consume high-calorie meals along with sugary foods   
   and drinks and there is lots of evidence to show those kinds of eating   
   behaviours can lead to obesity," says Dr. Bottorff. "These are not the   
   only habits that lead to obesity, but they are important and can't be   
   ruled out."  The study, published recently in Preventive Medicine Reports,   
   was led by Dr.   
      
   Shihui Peng with the School of Medicine at China's Jinan University. While   
   there is well-established research that links unhealthy diets to many   
   chronic diseases, this study aimed to show a relationship between poor   
   eating habits and infectious diseases including colds and diarrhea.   
      
   Dr. Bottorff notes, due to the nature of the study, it was not possible   
   to show cause and effect but the relationship between poor eating habits,   
   obesity and respiratory illnesses were well supported.   
      
   "There has been biomedical research that also supports this link between   
   obesity and infectious diseases, and most recently this has been related   
   to COVID-19," she adds. "We know from some of the recent publications   
   related to COVID-19, obese people were more likely to have severe   
   conditions and outcomes.   
      
   Reasons that have been offered for this increased vulnerability   
   include impaired breathing from the pressure of extra weight and poorer   
   inflammatory and immune responses."  A typical student diet of high-sugar   
   or high-calorie foods can become a long- term issue as these habits can   
   lead to obesity. Dr. Bottorff says there is evidence to show that stress   
   and anxiety can cause overeating, but overeating can also lead to stress   
   and depression.   
      
   "The bottom line here is that we shouldn't be ignoring this risk pattern   
   among young people at university. It is well documented that a significant   
   portion of students have unhealthy diets," she adds. "The types of foods   
   they are eating are linked to obesity. And this can lead to other health   
   problems that are not just about chronic disease but also infectious   
   diseases."  While Dr. Bottorff says students should be taught about   
   healthy eating while at university the onus should be on the school to   
   provide healthy, and affordable, food options for all students.   
      
   "We need to think about the food environment that we provide students. We   
   need to ensure that in our cafeterias and vending machines, there are   
   healthy food options so that they can eat on the go but also make healthy   
   food choices."  It's not an issue going unnoticed. UBC Student Wellness   
   and Food Services work together to address food security and food literacy   
   and recognize that a lack of affordable food options, coupled with the   
   stress of university life, can negatively impact students' food choices.   
      
   Food insecure students have access to a low-barrier food bank and a meal   
   share program. Meanwhile, UBCO Food Services' culinary team prioritizes   
   local, organic and sustainably-sourced ingredients, and works with   
   a registered dietitian to ensure a wide variety of food options are   
   available to all diners.   
      
   Dr. Bottorff agrees there have been improvements to food options in   
   cafeterias and notes the drinks in many vending machines have been   
   rearranging so healthier items are at eye-level and sugary choices are   
   lower down.   
      
   "I know many post-secondary schools are trying to figure out how we can   
   do better and are trying to address these problems," she adds. "It's   
   great, because four or five years ago, we weren't. So, I think we're on   
   the right road, but I think we're a long way from finished."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Diet_and_Weight_Loss # Staying_Healthy # Nutrition   
                   # Obesity   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Food # Food_and_Agriculture # Bacteria #   
                   Agriculture_and_Food   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Upper_respiratory_tract_infection o Eating_disorder o   
             Atkins_Diet o Obesity o Nutrition o Postpartum_depression o   
             Bipolar_disorder o Healthy_diet   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   University_of_British_Columbia_Okanagan_campus. Note: Content may be   
   edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Sihui Peng, Dan Wu, Tingzhong Yang, Joan L Bottorff. Does obesity   
      related   
         eating behaviors only affect chronic diseases? A nationwide study   
         of university students in China. Preventive Medicine Reports,   
         2023; 32: 102135 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102135   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230524182034.htm   
      
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