It is the time in life where many people make the most important decisions of their life. Should I make the typical choice and go to college straight out of high school, or join the workplace and try to get a career? For most high school students, the choice is college. Beginning college is a difficult transition for some, and a time of great adjustment. This page addresses some of the hazards or problems students may face in this new environment.

In our youth, which covers the ages from about nineteen to the mid twenties, our physical status is at its peak. We can run the furthest, jump the highest and eat the most without it having an immediate effect on our bodies. Interestingly, this is a critical period in our lives because the decisions we make now influence the rest of our lives. For instance, this is a time when we can determine how healthy we want to be when we grow older. The way that we treat our bodies in our college years has a great affect on how healthy we are in our old age. Even though this is a time of greatest health for people, most don't believe the way that they treat their body now will affect them in later life. Hence, they drink and smoke, don't get the proper nutrition and create bad habits, and don't get enough exercise.

Almost half of U.S. college students say that they drink heavily (Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 1996). Many of these students don't realize the toll that this drinking has on themselves, and realize even less the affect that it has on others.

Santrock, John. (1997) Life-span Development, (7th ed.), McGraw-Hill. p.390.

Drinking affects us all, even if we aren't the one who is drinking.

Many people don't stop to think how their personal lifestyle will affect them in their later adult years. This is especially true for college students. Because they feel they don't have the time to eat healthy, they may develop bad eating habits.

This lack of proper nutrition and concern for well being can be devastating to one's health. Below is a list of some of the more unhealthy habits noted among college students:

• Not eating Breakfast or Regular Meals
• Relying on Snacks as their Main Food Source
• Eating Excessively
• Smoking Moderately or Excessively
• Drinking Moderately or Excessively
• Failing to Exercise
• Sleeping only a Few Hours a Night

Each of these poor habits can affect one's health. It can also affect the set point of our body. The set point is the weight that is maintained when no effort is made to gain or lose weight. This set point is greatly affected by the way an individual eats. If that pattern of eating is inconsistent, then the body is thrown out of whack and one may become obese or may look a little anorexic. By maintaining a typical eating pattern (i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner), one might be able to prevent some of the affects of bad health in their later adult lives.

Exercise is one of the most important activities that a person can do to better their lives. Researchers have found that exercise benefits not only physical health, but mental health as well (Leith, 1998). Exercise can improve one's image and reduce anxiety and depression. All it takes is 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity! A brisk walk, a bike ride, a game of tennis, fishing, or even mowing the lawn can give you all the exercise that you need.
(Of course, waterskiing is always fun!)