Study: UNH students eat dangerous diets, not enough nutrients

DURHAM, N.H. --Forget the "Freshman 15." Instead, students at the University of New Hampshire should try "Freshman Folic Acid Deficiency."

A new study of 800 UNH undergraduates finds many of the students don't get enough of many nutrients and are overweight.

"Our data would suggest a lot of folks in this population are not eating a healthy diet," said Jesse Stabile Morrell, a UNH nutrition lecturer.

According to the study, at least a third of undergraduates were overweight or obese. Others showed signs of health problems in the making.

Among male students, 60 percent recorded high blood pressure, 95 percent didn't eat enough fiber and almost a quarter failed to get 30 minutes of exercise daily.

Among female students, more than three-quarters didn't get enough iron. Two-third of females didn't get enough calcium or folic acid.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com