How to turn "crispy" into "hardcore"? Sports and psychology experts give advice on the spot

Holding back laughter leads to a ruptured nasal artery, eating watermelon in the middle of the night causes acute gastroenteritis, stretching and twisting the neck... Recently, the topic of "fragile college students" has sparked heated discussions on the Internet. Countless dramatic accidental injuries have rushed out from the college student group, surging onto social platforms like waves, and sprinting to the top of the hot search list.

How is the health of young people in the new era? What are the reasons behind young people's health problems? How should they adjust themselves? Recently, the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention visited Zhengzhou Science and Technology Secondary Vocational School and invited Tang Hongyuan, deputy director and associate researcher of Henan Sports Science and Technology Center, and Yang Yongchao, a psychotherapist and chief physician of Zhengzhou Eighth People's Hospital, to talk with students face to face about health.

Reasons | "Crispy" college students love to eat takeout and don't like to exercise

"'Crispy college students' may seem like an internet joke, but it has been proven in the emergency department of a hospital." Yang Yongchao said that in September this year alone, the emergency department of a hospital in Zhengzhou received more than 1,700 young people aged 18 to 25, with causes including trauma, abdominal pain, chest tightness, etc., with the main theme of "diversified injuries and diseases". In 2021, the Ministry of Education released a random test and review data on the physical health of more than 1.15 million students. The data showed that as of 2020, the "failure rate" of physical health of college students in the sample was about 30%.

Tang Hongyuan believes that the hot topic of "crispy college students" illustrates at least two points. On the one hand, it shows that the physical health conditions of people from adolescence to college students are not optimistic, and it has now reached the point where changes have to be made. On the other hand, it shows that public health awareness is improving, and everyone's attention to health levels is increasing, which is a good thing.

In Tang Hongyuan's opinion, there are many reasons for the phenomenon of "crispy" college students. The most direct cause of this problem is the general lack of physical activity and long periods of sitting among students. The family environment also has an impact. Under academic pressure, parents are academic-oriented, and various tutoring classes have squeezed out the free space for young people. Parents' own lack of physical activity has not played a good role in teaching by example. In addition, students themselves may not have developed an interest and skills in sports activities. The extensive use of electronic products and excessive screen time have exacerbated this problem.

"Secondly, the change in diet is also an important reason for the decline in college students' physique." Tang Hongyuan said that with the popularity of fast food and convenience foods, college students have been suppressed for a long time in high school, so they can't control themselves when they arrive at the university campus. Most people will not go down to the dormitory building if they don't have classes, and all meals are directly ordered from takeout. It is well known that long-term takeout will cause considerable harm to our bodies. However, some college students believe that they can avoid harm by relying on their "immune" bodies. At the same time, students' diets are increasingly inclined to high-fat and high-sugar foods. This bad eating habit not only causes them to gain weight, but may also cause various health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

Tips | Say goodbye to anxiety and remember these few things

"The various pressures and challenges students face may cause anxiety, which is normal, and there are ways to help them overcome this emotion." Yang Yongchao said that if students feel anxious, they can seek help. Communicating with friends, family or mental health professionals can help relieve stress and anxiety; insist on exercising. Exercise can release tension and stress in the body and help relieve anxiety. It is recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week; eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet is very important for emotional stability. Maintain healthy eating habits and eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy protein.

Another thing is to develop good sleeping habits. Lack of sleep may aggravate anxiety. Yang Yongchao recommends that everyone get seven to eight hours of sleep every night and develop good sleeping habits, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule and avoiding drinking alcohol or coffee at night.

Another thing is to learn to set goals and priorities. There are many things that can make people feel overwhelmed during college. It is recommended to set clear goals and priorities and focus on completing them. You can also learn some relaxation techniques. For example, techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce anxiety.

"It is especially important to change negative thinking. Anxious people tend to think of the worst-case scenario. It is recommended to learn to identify and change this negative thinking and try to look at the situation from a more positive perspective." Yang Yongchao said that through these methods, college students can reduce anxiety and better cope with the various challenges of college. Of course, overcoming anxiety takes time and effort.

Suggestion: Reject the temptation of junk food and strengthen physical exercise

"Tsinghua University proposed 'no sports, no Tsinghua', and Peking University proposed 'complete personality, first in sports', which actually tells us a truth: sports are not only sports activities themselves, but also closely related to the shaping of personality and the improvement of health level." Tang Hongyuan said, therefore, as a school, we should actively guide students to participate in various sports activities, hold various sports events and encourage students to actively participate. As individual students, we should have clear plans and methods for physical exercise, such as the sports events, exercise time, exercise frequency, and exercise intervals that we often talk about. These knowledge need to be popularized by the school.

Tang Hongyuan said that according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, engaging in physical activities of moderate intensity or above for more than 30 minutes at least five times a week will have a positive effect on health.

Yang Yongchao believes that young people should be wary of the endless temptation of junk food, especially college students, who often indulge in fast food high in sugar, salt and oil, while neglecting the intake of vegetables, fruits and other nutrients. The alarm bell has been sounded, and proper dietary education and guidance are imperative.

"Secondly, maintain a proper work and rest schedule and avoid excessive fatigue. Staying up late has become the norm for modern young people. Work pressure and entertainment needs often make them overly tired." Yang Yongchao said that staying up late for a long time will not only lead to a decline in physical function, but may also cause a series of mental health problems. Appropriate rest and a regular work and rest schedule are necessary means for us to protect our health.