The Health Habits You Form in College May Stick

Learning The Ropes: We know that college is important for setting us up for careers and friendships. But what about our health? A recent study found that the lifestyle habits young adults adopt transitioning from high school to college can persist into adulthood, especially related to weight.

The Study: Between 1998 and 2007, nearly 5,000 students completed a health survey before the start of their first year at Tufts University. In 2018, 970 completed a follow-up survey. Researchers grouped participants into five lifestyle groups and tracked their BMI changes since the initial survey. About half maintained their early lifestyle habits post-college, though 32% had worsened behaviors and about 19% improved. Two-thirds maintained a healthy weight. 

The Takeaway: The study and its findings suggest that the habits we adapt as young adults are quite influential on our health and weight throughout our lives, though it is possible to make positive shifts. 

Keep in Mind: The data came from one university and few participants completed the alumni survey, so the findings aren’t necessarily reflective of the general population.