Plenty of junk food ensures students gain weight in their first year
Fresher’s week is about to fall upon thousands of students for the first time, and with diets filled with plenty of pizza, chips, chocolate and takeaways, it’s only going to spell disaster for their degree.
New research from Upbeat reveals that half of students are planning to survive on a diet rich in refined carbs and sugar, ignoring important nutrients like protein that the body and brain needs to aid development and fuel learning.
The news comes as a whopping eight in ten students report being unable to concentrate due to their poor diet, and one in eight admit to feeling low and tired the majority of the time.
With nearly half of all students admitting they hardly ever eat their recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, and one in seven believing protein not to be an essential part of their daily consumption, freshers appear ill-prepared for the tough term ahead. In addition, a sizeable three in five students revealed that they were more likely to skip breakfast over any other meal, and one in nine stated that they skip breakfast every day, opting for extra snooze time in bed.
Dr Adam Carey, nutritional health and wellness expert commented: "With thousands of students set to leave home for the first time, they should be careful not to leave their nutrition needs behind! Spelling disaster for degrees, studies show that foods with a high sugar content can cause changes in brain insulin function and reduce memory, while studies also show that individuals who frequently snack on refined carbs like biscuits and chips have poor concentration levels.
"Protein, as the most filling of foods, is especially important in the morning as it'll help set busy students up for the day. Plus, we can't store protein so it's important to spread it through the day. Recent research also suggests that having a protein-rich breakfast can also prevent unhealthy snacking later in the day, helping to stop freshers craving that crisp packet."
Freshers' flab
Another consequence of poor diet was weight gain. Nearly half of students reported putting on weight since starting university, with the average amount being 10lbs in their first year. Over a third of all students attributed their newly found weight gain to eating too many snacks, one in five attributed this to skipping meals and one in three blamed it on the booze.
How results compare across the country
Research from Upbeat went on to uncover some fascinating insights into the health of students around the UK. Students in the North East at universities such as Durham and Newcastle were the most likely to skip breakfast, with 64% declaring that they skipped breakfast more than any other meal. Students from Northern Ireland were the most likely to gain weight from too much fast food. Results also showed that Scottish students were the least likely to exercise. When it comes to energy levels, students in Northern Ireland had the least, with one in four reporting that they feel low and tired a lot.
Mark Neville, Founder of The Good Whey Co., the company behind Upbeat said: "With top up fees rendering university places at a premium, it's important that freshers get off to a flying start, remaining positive throughout their course! Something as simple as protein, or a handy bottle of Upbeat, can play a vital role in keeping students healthy and on track throughout their studies."
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