Lauren Stakenborghs admitted her health habits need improvement as she debated going to her evening yoga class. The elementary education senior said she tries to keep a regular yoga exercise schedule, but she has only been successful a few times. A recent survey found University students are worse than the national average in terms of health.The American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment follows last week’s report by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center that shows the poor health of Louisiana children.The Pennington’s report gave Louisiana a D rating in children’s health, citing high obesity and a lack of physical exercise as problems. Julie Hupperich, Student Health Center associate director, said the poor rating of childhood health directly affects University students.The survey only studies children up to age 18, but Hupperich said unhealthy habits do not end with childhood.  ”Nothing magical happens from the time students graduate from high school to the time they start college,” she said. “This is a good time to intervene [and establish healthy choices], but many bad habits are brought with them to college.”The University has 5.3 percent of students underweight, compared to 4.4 percent nationally, and 13.4 percent of students who are obese, compared to 10 percent nationally, according to the ACHA–NCHA. The study defines underweight as having less than an 18.5 percent body mass index and obese as more than a 30 percent BMI.The survey also found 36.8 percent of University students do cardiovascular exercise three or more times a week and 31.9 percent of students participate in strength training exercises three or more times a week. These numbers are more than the national average of 36.7 percent of students and 28.7 percent of students respectively.  Peter Katzmarzyk, associate executive director for population science at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, said the survey of the state’s childhood health showed a high rate of obesity because of a significant lack of physical activity.He said 57 percent of kids watch more than two hours of television a day, and only 4 percent of kids are eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.Katzmarzyk said part of the problem is cultural, since Louisiana and Mississippi always have the highest obesity rate. He said researchers attempt to find why the South has low health scores.Hupperich said the Southern culture seems to revolve around food — people always bring lots of food to gatherings, events and celebrations.”Living in the South can create challenges,” she said. “It seems like Louisiana is always at the wrong end of the list. Staying motivated to be active and healthy is the best way to learn to work around that challenge.”Joseph Browning, physics senior, said he has decent nutrition habits, but needs to work on his daily exercise.”I never eat anything fried or heavy,” he said. “I probably eat about two to three servings of fruits and vegetables a day and only dine out twice a month.”Browning said he only exercises once a week, but he is trying to increase the frequency.”I dine out at least twice a week,” Stakenborghs said. “I sometimes eat healthier when I’m at home, but not as much as I should.”Katzmarzyk said studies show obesity often lasts a lifetime — it is very difficult to change, causing obese children to age into overweight adults.Researchers are trying to predict the impact unhealthy lifestyles will have on the future health care system, Katzmarzyk said. He said the high obesity rate in children causes an increase in children with adult diabetes, children talking blood pressure medication and children with psycho-social problems.Hupperich said the Student Health Center sees students with problems like diabetes, sleep apnea and hypertension — all related to obesity — though it is hard to determine if the number of students visiting the Health Center could be reduced with healthier living. The Health Center works with students individually and at group levels to educate about healthy choices and good nutrition, Hupperich said. She said the Health Center has two dieticians who meet with students at no charge.”Good nutrition habits are important in achieving a healthy weight,” she said. —-Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]