Causes and Prevention of Obesity in College Students Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Moreover, they participate in a diverse range of activities that may make them either vulnerable to obesity or not. Therefore, this research will focus on analyzing the factors that make college students more vulnerable to obesity and the potential strategies that they can use in preventing the development of obesity. Research Questions This research will seek to address the following questions: What are the main factors that make college students vulnerable to developing obesity? How can college students prevent the development of obesity? Research Hypothesis The main hypothesis in this research will be: Poor diet choices are the leading contributing factors to the increasing rates of obesity among college students. Literature Review The clinical diagnosis of obesity has its basis on the Body Mass Index (BMI). The formula for calculating the Body Mass Index is as follows: The subjects weight in Kg BMI = The height in meters squared Individuals who have a BMI of 18 to 28 fall into the healthy category. However, a BMI of 25-30 qualifies one to be overweight. Obesity begins from a BMI of 30.We will write a custom essay sample on Causes and Prevention of Obesity in College Students or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now There are individuals with serious cases of obesity who may even register a BMI of above 40. The BMI calculation is currently the only available scale used in the determination of obesity cases. It relies on the weight and height proportion as illustrated in the formula above. It is surprising that many college students are proving to be either overweight or obese. A close analysis reveals that the college environment presents students with an opportunity to lead different lifestyles from those of their family (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Moreover, many of the students are overwhelmed by the freedom presented by the college environment and indulge in a wide range of activities that define their diet or lifestyle. Researchers have highlighted that college students have the freedom to choose what they can eat. Unhealthy eating habits have been highlighted as the leading cause of obesity in all the age groups. College students are prone to poor eatin g habits because of the lifestyle they adopt in school. They are likely to rely on junk foods served in fast food restaurants where they frequent. Moreover, many college students consider the sizes of portions or calorific guidelines that define healthy eating. Therefore, they are likely to indulge in binge eating, consuming larger portions of food than is required by their bodies. Many college students do not have the time to prepare healthy meals for themselves.