Texas State - Student Health Center

Food. It can be a wonderful thing in our lives. It can remind us of the comfort of home, favorite holidays and fun times with friends. We can also have very complex relationships with food. In the United States, we struggle with the conflict of vast amounts of food and media images promoting extreme thinness. Obesity rates are rising rapidly in this country while eating disorders are increasing on college campuses.

There is an abundant availability of misinformation about nutrition and healthy eating. The reality is that there is no "quick fix" when it comes to good nutrition. The best approach to having a healthy body is to eat a generally healthy diet, exercise moderately, accept your natural body type and remember that food is meant to be enjoyed. In these pages you will find sound nutritional advice based on scientific evidence.

One of our other section discusses exercise. In this section, you will find information about the popular forms of exercise, such as flexibility and strength training, as well as information about training environments. The main goal of this section, along with the nutrition information, is to help you make decisions that either maintain or lead to a healthier lifestyle.

We also provide information about eating concerns and eating disorders. Chances are, someone you know is struggling with their relationship with food. These are complicated issues; sometimes they can be life-threatening. We encourage you to use the resources on campus to get help for an eating disorder whether it be for yourself or for a friend. The concern of friends, boyfriends, counselors or roommates is often the reason why people get help.

Last Modified: March 20, 2007