This document discusses obesity and unhealthy eating habits among college students. It notes that the World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic. While Colorado provides many outdoor activities that could promote exercise, many college students struggle to make healthy choices with unlimited access to cafeteria food, often choosing less nutritious options like pizza and ice cream. As a result, nearly 30% of college students are considered overweight or obese, and on average students gain 3-10 pounds during their first two years, especially in the first semester of freshman year due to stress and unhealthy late night snacking.

1. The World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic.

2. There are currently 12,804 McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visit a fast food restaurant. In 1972, Americans spent $3 billion on fast food, and today they spend more than $110 billion.

4. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the Rocky Mountains as their backyard, over 2,850 lakes, and over 850 miles of bike baths, state residents are able to exercise outdoors all year round through a variety of activities like biking, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and kayaking.

5. This is a man walking his dog around Washington Park, Denver. According to the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Denver has the largest city parks system in the country with more than 200 parks in the city and more that 20,000 acres of parks in the outer areas, which contributes to the state’s unique culture of fitness.

6. According to Alex Cooper, a freshman at the University of Denver, the diverse ways to exercise outdoors in Colorado, like skiing and snowboarding, are much more enjoyable than the traditional indoor workout.

7. Many college students find it difficult to make healthy choices when they have unlimited access to cafeteria food three times a day, the most palatable of which are often the fattier, less nutritional options like nachos, pizza, and ice cream.

8. According to TeensHealth, students on average gain 3-10 pounds during their first two years of college, most of which occurs in the first semester of freshman year. Nearly 30% of college students are currently considered overweight/obese by the American College Health Association’s standards.

9. These are the snacks offered at Penrose Library at the University of Denver. The time restraints of many college cafeterias cause students to get hungry later in the night, translating to late night snacking. Many college students are already experiencing stress from adapting to a big life change. A busier workload and cramming can result in unhealthy eating habits.