Student Health

Surveys have shown that students entering university have a better physical development than others in their own age group.

The question discussed here is whether this advantage in physique and health is maintained over the coming three, four, or more decades.

The restrictions on university students made by long hours of study and classroom attendance challenge this advantage in two ways. The first is that their largely sedentary existance comes at a time when there is a final spurt of growth in the respiratory, circulatory and muscular systems — a growth which strengthens the efficiency of the body's energy production and ensures a greater physical tolerance and endurance for many years to come.

It is physical activity not inactivity which pushes this growth spurt to its limit, consolidating the advantage. With the pressure of first year university to cope with, all too many miss out on this consolidating phase of growth, and find it d difficult to pick up again in subsequent years.

The second factor is a little more subtle but is the most important. The pattern of work, play, physical recreation, pleasure and rest that each person develops for himself, is referred to as lifestyle. It provides living habits which ensure adequate nutrition, the all important physical recreation mentioned above and the ability to cope with and reduce stress.

A well balanced lifestyle is attained by personal effort and is not provided by health, medical or social services. Unfortunately the ground roots determining the pattern of one's lifestyle are established at the same time as the student is limiting his activities to meet those which are appropriate at University.

The occupation and other responsibilities which graduates accept can again delay or divert him from these satisfying and rewarding patterns. It would seem that the timing of this development is an all important factor.

Mortality rates show that a significant number number of those who have had a tertiary education suffer an early death. A careful scrutiny establishes that the main contributing factors to this early mortality are the lifestyle and living habits of the deceased.