You may have heard of the dreaded "Freshman 15" which basically declares that most people in their first year of college gain 15 lbs. The main reason being binge drinking, not exercising, and having to feed ourselves for the first time. According to USA Today, young people age 18-29 are staying static in their health or are getting unhealthier than they were 10-15 years ago. So our unhealthy habits seem to be following us out of college as well.
If you're young, this probably doesn't come as a surprise for you. Being young means being untied down, typically with no mortgages, spouses, or kids to worry about. Where does all that extra cash go? Eating out or partying at the bars. The study claims that among young men, almost 1/3 smoke cigarettes and a 1/4 binge drink.
On top of that, a 1/3 of young people are obese AND 1/3 are overweight. By my calculations, that only leave another third in good standing. 30% also don't have health insurance, but I'm not sure how. If you have a job, you generally have benefits. So perhaps a 1/3 are unemployed?
When you're young your metabolism ifs flipping out. There is no need to have an extra 10-15 lbs added to your body.
So the point is, young people have bad health habits which is likely to translate to health problems when they're older. It also seems that men are more prone to bad habits than women as well.
Young people, especially in their 20's, have an invincibility mentality, and sometimes that can mean disregarding their health.
What can be done to get young people to care more about health? I don't have the answer, all I can draw upon is my own motivation for being fit. Mine starting with insecurity at a young age. All I wanted to do was get big and strong and that I did. Then at age 35 I began to look at health being more important than big muscles. So will maturing and growing emotionally bring healthy choices like exercise and eating better into our lives? Or will it take something and emotionally driven event to create a healthy well-balanced habit ?
