Nurturing your body is essential

Photo courtesy of Photo Editor Faith Zatlukal

I am sure many of you have heard of the “freshman 15,” but what may be an important concern for many college students is actually the opposite. You may be an outlier if you have not heard a classmate or friend lamenting about their lack of time for a meal. Conversations surrounding missed meals are frequent on college campuses— and the issue is one that has become so normalized that, at this point, most people do not see it as an issue. In a world that seems to simultaneously emphasize self-love—while also constantly reminding us to worry about meeting a vague, perpetually shifting societal expectation of beauty—it is important to prioritize our physical health; do not let the business of a college schedule serve as an excuse for skipping meals and neglecting your body’s nutritional needs.

Maintaining an adequate and nutritious diet within the chaos of a college schedule is no easy feat, especially considering the difficulty of choosing between the sometimes lackluster dining options available on campus. Coming up soon, we will all have an opportunity to make this important task less difficult for the next semester. I do not think this is something many students consider when picking their classes, but ensuring you have time to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day is perhaps just as important as many of the other factors we all think about. 

Skipping meals is quite common on college campuses, but that does not mean this culture is healthy. Having friends who skip meals regularly only further normalizes the practice and can make it harder to consistently motivate yourself to maintain your health. Additionally, while a lack of time may be part of the problem, skipping meals is often tied to social pressures, beauty standards, and unrealistic or unhealthy expectations. Research has demonstrated that a number of factors put college students at a much greater risk for the development of eating disorders. 

Though estimates vary, one study found that post-pandemic, the percentage of college students at risk for an eating disorder rose from 13 percent to 28 percent; for women, student-athletes, and gender minority groups, these percentages are significantly greater. Eating disorders go beyond just skipping meals or eating less. Consistently depriving your body of nutrition harms your quality of life and ability to function as a student, friend, family member, athlete, etc. Your body is a machine, and it needs fuel to run. 

Now, this does not mean that skipping a meal because you have to get to class once in a while is the end of the world. It should, however, not become a regular practice. If this semester has proven tricky and trying on this front, be sure to plan your classes around meal times—do not allow yourself the excuse of a busy schedule. If next semester rolls around, you have planned accordingly, and you still find yourself skipping meals—put forth a concerted effort to examine the reasons for that lack of self-care.

If, in this examination, you realize a need for assistance in meeting your essential daily intake, resources areas available on campus to support you. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to make an appointment at Lauderdale Health Center or the South Village Health Center. Please take advantage of them!