Healthy Zone

The increasing obesity rate has become a critical problem in North America, with universities becoming a specific center for unhealthy living. In Canada a university has implemented a strict campaign to improve the standards of health for students. Deemed the “healthy zone”, they have banned all junk food and smoking from campus, and compromised with commercial franchises on campus to alter their menus. Students must also partake in a certain amount of physical activity each week. In result the university will cut the tuition fees by fifty percent. With the stresses of school, many people find it hard to find maintain a healthy lifestyle. They resort to convenience over health, which is not always the best choice. Implementing this program would benefit everyone because it would be optimal for student’s health by encouraging them to eat healthy, stay active, and save money. With the small selection of healthy food being twice the price of fries and burgers in the campus cafeteria, it is no wonder why so many people these days are choosing junk food. Removing the junk food from campus will not only make it easier for students to make healthier choices foods, but there will be a greater selection of natural foods available on campus. It is important to encourage young adults today to choose a more nutritious path, for many health reasons. The growing rate of obesity is leading to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. If you start living a healthy lifestyle early in life it will be easier to maintain an active one in the future. Eating nutritiously is only half the battle in decreasing you risk of obesity and other illnesses. It is important to find a balance between eating right, and maintaining an active lifestyle.

A demanding schedule of a university student can make it difficult to find the time and energy to exercise regularly. With a full course load, there can be little time for physical activity, but by making it mandatory for students, gives them the same motivation they would have to do well in an exam. The program offers many different approaches to stay active from yoga classes to organized sports, so everyone could partake in something they enjoyed. Engaging in regular physical activity increases cardiovascular fitness, and decreases risk of heart disease and obesity. If this program was to catch onto other universities and school across Canada, it could help our economy by decreasing money spent on health care. Not only would it help save the government but students would also benefit from the cut in tuition fees. Some students may be skeptical in regards to the “Health Zone” but could not deny the benefits in tuition fee cuts. Up to 50% tuition decrease would not only help the students currently enrolled but also open the door for the young adults who had to stray away from post-secondary due to financial difficulties. This would also help decrease the amount of debt in the economy as much of it is attributed to student loans. Overall a less stressful schooling experience would be had even further bettering the standards of living for students. Less stress would allow the students to focus more on their studies, which could result in better grades and higher percentages. This higher standard of academia would benefit the university as well pushing it to a more prestigious level. It is important to establish a healthy lifestyle as a young adult because you lay down the foundation for your future. The “Healthy Zone” is an effective way to guide students in the right direction. The university is taking the proper steps to provide students with the motivation to stay active, and the environment to eat healthier. Hopefully, other universities will see the promise in this program and follow suit by creating a “Healthy Zone” of their own.