For many students on campus, one of the biggest concerns regarding the first year of college is the so-called “freshman 15.” This term has frightened 18-year-olds across the country for decades now, even making its way into movies, TV shows and other forms of pop culture. Regrettably, I remember being most worried about weight gain more than anything else when I first arrived here as a freshman, but I don’t think that I was alone in that concern. As American culture has once again shifted towards the idea that thinness is equated to health, young people all across the country, particularly those surrounded by their peers on college campuses, have fallen into fasting, restricting and over-exercising. While leading a healthy lifestyle is important for one’s overall well-being, the return of the heroin-chic body standard suggests a dangerous trend among students, particularly here at Villanova.

So, why is the issue of toxic diet culture so magnified at Villanova? Well, it’s no secret that a large portion of our student population comes from an affluent background. While some may argue that this aspect of a person’s life has no connection to how healthy they are, I strongly disagree. 

I’ll break it down. The first part of this idea is the aspect of nutrition. Although Villanova has made strides in recent years to offer healthier dining options, it’s no secret that on any college campus, the food served in the dining halls may not be the most nutritious. And, for many students, the food provided here on campus is the only option available. Inversely, VU’s more affluent student population has the means to a) order in more often, or b) buy fresh produce and cook healthy meals when living in apartment-style housing. According to an article published by Temple University, 23% of all undergraduate students across the nation are currently experiencing food insecurity. That’s four million people. And unfortunately, what this means is that the food provided through university meal plans may be the only option.

Now for the second part of the issue: luxury fitness. At Villanova, students are lucky enough to have access to multiple fitness centers throughout campus. But many students, or the ones who can afford it, attend high-end fitness classes at places such as Hotworx or Solidcore, the latter costing $166 per month. And that price doesn’t even factor in the transportation to said fitness classes, where students either need to have access to a car or enough money to pay for an Uber. On top of this, exercise, no matter where it takes place, takes time. 

“While I don’t think that people with less money can’t be healthy, I absolutely think that it’s so much easier for people with more wealth to be physically fit and active,” Lucy Milback, first-year English student, said. “In theory, going to the gym, doing yoga, running, etc. shouldn’t be too expensive and should be done with minimal obstacles. I have my running shoes, shorts, and old t-shirts that I wear to work out on my own or go for runs, but being at Villanova has made me want to buy cute running clothes just because I’ve been seeing them around a lot. It’s not a bad thing to want cute clothes, etc., but I think being at Villanova has made me more aware of and more conscious of my appearance wherever I am.”

For some undergrads, time that could be spent at the gym is instead taken up by work or on-campus jobs needed in order to stay afloat. The more you think about it, every aspect of health requires a degree of privilege.

Finally, and perhaps the most troubling aspect of my argument, being thin is often a reflection of medical treatment. No, I don’t just mean having access to the ever-popular GLP-1s that have exploded across the world medical market. More often than many people realize, a person’s weight can be tied to underlying health issues, such as PCOS, diabetes, thyroid issues or even GI problems. And without access to proper diagnosis and treatment, someone who is struggling financially simply cannot afford to be thin. 

For all of these reasons, I firmly believe that Villanova’s diet culture is not only harmful, but exclusionary towards students who do not come from the top 10%. While there are many groups on campus that make fitness a positive and community-based value, such as Girl Gains, it’s very important for all students to take a step back and ask themselves: “Am I dieting for myself, or because I want to be like someone else?” More importantly, if you are someone who feels that they are struggling with disordered eating or body image issues, the counseling center has two staff members, Victoria Ostroff and Samantha Logan, who specialize in this area, as well as staff nutritionists. Health is not an individual journey, but also a privilege.