by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: July 06, 2009

When you first start college your weight generally isn't much of an issue, at least not until you notice that you've put on a few pounds. You perhaps don't notice the bad habits that become part of your routine, such as eating irregularly and eating junk food, drinking too much alcohol, not getting enough sleep, and not making enough effort to exercise. When you were at home you had a system in place which enabled you to maintain your weight, but as soon as you leave home everything changes, including your priorities. You therefore need to focus on developing a routine which will allow you to remain at a healthy weight.

Starting college can be a stressful experience as you're away from home and your family, you don't know anybody, and you have new academic challenges to face. When you're stressed out your sleep patterns can be disturbed, which can affect your appetite and see you turning to food. Some people drink more alcohol when they are stressed. Both food and drink can contribute to weight gain if they are providing you with more calories than you need.

Not everybody on campus consumes more calories as a result of stress, though, as lots of people find themselves enjoying themselves and socialising lots, which can involve eating and drinking too much. It can be difficult to establish a routine and so you may just grab food when you can, and if you don't eat regularly it can affect your metabolism, increasing the likelihood that you gain weight. You therefore need to eat breakfast and eat throughout the day so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and start holding on to calories.

As well as eating regularly you need to eat the right kind of food, avoiding calorific processed foods which don't provide you with all the nutrients you need and contain high levels of fat, salt and sugar. Instead you need to consume fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice, beans and pulses, and some dairy foods. You also need to consider the portion sizes of your meals, as it is easy to overlook how much you are eating, and clearly if you eat too much you can find yourself putting on weight.

You not only need to keep an eye on your diet; you also need to make exercise a part of your regular routine, as exercising can provide you with the most effective way of controlling your weight. If you do enough exercise you will be able to occasionally overindulge without worrying about putting on weight, and thus it is worthwhile making time in your schedule for more physical activity.

Weight gain isn't inevitable when you start college, but it helps if you pay attention to your lifestyle habits so that you can make the right choices that enable you to manage your weight effectively.

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