Diet gun

Another study, very recent and published on June 4, 2026 in MDPI, entitled Eating Habits, Body Weight Perception, and Psycho-Emotional Factors Among Romanian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, showed that eating behaviors and habits during young adulthood interact and shape health.

Irregular eating patterns, unhealthy food choices, and engaging in quite restrictive diets have been repeatedly associated with increased psychological distress and altered body weight perception. Continuing bad eating habits can cause a permanent habit of consuming foods with low nutritional value, leading to long-term health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Discrepancies between calculated BMI and subjective body weight perception have emerged as a relevant factor influencing eating behaviors and emotional well-being. Distorted body image may act as a mediator linking eating behaviors to emotional and cognitive health.

BMI should not have been given as a universal health norm because it does not include in its equation (and in its results) anything more than weight in relation to height. Body type, muscle mass, body fluids are NOT calculated with BMI.

Not everyone can have a low healthy body weight if it is not designed by their genes and their body type to have it. Some have more body fat, some have more muscle mass without ever doing sports. Yes, epigenetics is very important, but genetics is just as important in humans.

Also, factors such as sleep quality, physical activity, caffeine intake and alcohol consumption reinforce poor eating behavior.

Interventions that target eating behaviors should be accompanied by improvements in nutritional knowledge, emotional regulation, stress management, healthy lifestyle practices, and learning and embedding the different body types that exist.

States that care about their nations should try to improve all these aspects of young people’s lives to have better health in adulthood and lower healthcare costs in the future.

States that are not interested will simply provide temporary health solutions without long-term results. Yes, some in governments may ultimately benefit financially from this.

Despite the improvement in life expectancy in “developed” countries, the total burden of disease (deaths and disability) remains constant due to the increasing burden that accompanies the increase in average survival and the aging of the population.
We live longer, but not in better health.

Learning is a path to a better and healthier life.
Learning in early adulthood is the key to a healthier nation and a better and more productive population.


Sources and articles that may help:
The Social, Behavioral, and Psychological Predictors of Young Women’s Food Choices: A Scoping Review
The Role of Psychological Factors in Young Adult Snacking: Exploring the Intention–Behaviour Gap
Childhood Eating Habits May Shape Adolescent Mental Health
Stress and eating behaviors in children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Breakfast and psychosocial behavioural problems in young population: The role of status, place, and habits