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KSL Newsradio's Randall Jeppeson reporting A study of Utah college kids shows a rise in health problems like diabetes, and most of the problems stem from being overweight.
This college student is enjoying a brownie in the hallway. On the wall behind him hangs a sign advertising the extreme eating competition. But apparently a lot of kids have extreme eating habits. The schools health survey shows 45 percent are overweight.
It seems like that would be accurate," said the student.
The school's wellness-education director Amy Grubbs says that number shocked even her. "Health habits are just going down, down, down," she said, "and a lot of it comes from what students are eating and a lack of exercise.
"They're eating out almost every meal."
Grubbs says part of the problem starts at home. "Mama's been cooking for them the whole time they've lived at home, and they have no idea how to make anything for themselves," she said.
Grubbs says they're trying to get students attention to let them know they need to excersice and start eating better or there going to suffer the consequences
The conclusion comes from UVSC's health appraisals from 2003 to 2006. Eighty percent of students' diets are low in nutritional value, and 36 percent aren't getting enough sleep, the school said.
The monthly appraisals include cholesterol, fitness and body-composition tests.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
