Body image factor in some diets

 
With the semester approaching it’s end, SU students consider their health during the summer season.
Health concerns such as maintaining a healthy weight and body image are taken into consideration when conceiving a diet.
Michelle Thomas, a sophomore mass communication major from Houston said, “I’ve been waiting for the summer since January and I can’t wait to hit the beach and show off my new slim figure.”
Thomas said that she had gotten really lazy last year when it was cold and had gained at least thirty pounds. “I hate gaining a lot of weight but I love eating food and it was difficult to shed the pounds,” Thomas said.
According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2009-2010), more than one-third (35.7%) of adults in the U.S. are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese.
In order to reduce these numbers many people have resorted to numerous forms of dieting in order to lose or maintain their weight and engage in healthier life styles.
Kevin Moore, a junior English major from Baton Rouge said, “I used to eat very healthy because I was an athlete and I wanted to stay fit but lately, I’ve been a bit of a glutton and I eat a lot of fast and junk food.”
Moore used to play baseball at his old high school but suffered a knee injury in 2009 before coming to Southern and hasn’t played since. “After I hurt my knee I became depressed and it became real easy to just sit around and eat junk food all day,” Moore said.
According to healthy-diet-habits.com, there are different types of eaters such as the emotional, stressful and mindless eaters.
Cheryl Atkinson, associate professor of the Human Nutrition and Food Division of Family and Consumer Science said, “People must realize that dieting is a lifestyle change, not a one day permanent solution.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the long time food pyramid was replaced on June 2, 2011 with a new nutrition guide called ‘MyPlate’.
The new guide depicts a place setting with a plate divided into sections of approximately 30 percent grains, 30 percent vegetables, 20 percent fruitsand 20 percent protein, accompanied by a smaller circle representing dairy, such as a glass of low-fat/nonfat milkor a yogurtcup.
​”MyPlate sympathizes with people better because it’s an easier concept for people to get,” Atkinson said. “It’s exactly what should be in their plate in the proper proportions.”
 
Kendra Harrison, a sophomore mass communication major said, “I don’t eat relatively healthy and I want to diet but I don’t necessarily know where to start.”
 
Atkinson said that cutting back on things that can be detrimental to the body like sugars, fats, sodas, and pies and getting a more fruit in meals can be a good place to start.
 
For more information students can contact the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences.