In all stages of life, women and men alike are asking the big question of how to lose weight or how not to gain.
So what do you do to stay at a healthy weight? Especially for those in their late teens or 20's trying to stay fit in college?
Doctor Diana Bitner, a menopause and women's health specialist at Spectrum Health, says weight isn't typically an issue for teens because they're participating on a sport's team at school. They're active and always moving so they don't need to think too hard about what they're putting in their bodies.
Once teens move out and head out to college, their lifestyle can drastically change from being active, to hardly any activity at all. Others see it as time to get away from their parents and eat the way they want, and making unhealthy choices.
There are five things that overall effect weight and health:
- Stress- Stress can mess with your metabolism. When the body is stressed, it goes into survival mode, thinking that there won't be enough food for tomorrow, so it stores whatever calories you've eaten away, and it turns into fat.
- Lack of sleep- No sleep, especially when you're stressed, puts the body in survival mode. Sleep deprivation makes you crave sugar foods like pizza, bread, and ice cream. Then all those calories will go straight to the fat cells.
- Late night eating- Since the body is typically less active at night, all those calories will get stored away in your body and turn into fat.
- Simple carbs- Simple carbs go straight to fat; a high diet in carbohydrates will lead to weight gain. Foods like vegetables, fruits, and protein will break down easier, and won't turn into fat as easily as breads do.
- Not enough exercise- Obviously if you don't exercise much, you're going to gain weight. Keeping the body active will burn off calories and extra fat. It's also a good way to maintain your current weight.
So make sure you consider the consequences before you start the college diet of beer and pizza. It might be a good idea to evaluate your eating habits and activity level before you leave for college so you can adjust your lifestyle and stay healthy!
Dr. Bitner is located on 3800 Lake Michigan Drive Northwest in suite A. To schedule an appointment, call (616) 267-8225.
