newenglander:
After giving this topic some thought, yes college attendees today are indeed heavier than their counterparts from prior generations. But has anyone noticed those in their early-20s becoming fatter in general?
Many cashiers and other workers in my local Dollar Tree, Stop&Shop, and Walmart for example are young but not likely to be college students. This much I deduced from seeing them at work when class would be in session. They seem much heavier than their predecessors from about 20 years ago.
This makes me wonder if college attendance is simply coincidental to weight gain. Could the real culprits be a combination of factors such as poor diet, antidepressant use, video games, and social media?
Also cigarette use is down significantly among this demographic. Nicotine being a stimulant often helped keep the weight off.
I mean, they may be in class. Online, weekend, and night classes are also options. There's also Summer classes, accelerated classes, ect. So, that alone isn't the best way to judge if they are students or not.
That being said, you are probably right about the reasons. But also high levels of stress, the inability to buy quality food, not having the time or the energy to exercise, etc.
The reasons are about as long as my arm.
