Researchers in India studied 752 college students to understand how unhealthy behaviors tend to happen together. They found that most students (74%) had poor eating habits and didn’t exercise enough, while smaller groups struggled with smoking, alcohol, or experienced violence. Interestingly, boys were more likely than girls to have multiple serious risk behaviors. The study shows that health programs need to address several problems at the same time, not just one behavior in isolation, especially for young men.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do unhealthy behaviors like poor eating, not exercising, smoking, drinking, and experiencing violence tend to happen together in college students?
  • Who participated: 752 college students aged 18-22 years from six colleges in Chandigarh, India. About 64% were female, and the average age was 19 years.
  • Key finding: The study identified four distinct groups of students: 74% had mainly diet and exercise problems, 12% experienced violence or injuries, 8% had multiple serious risks, and 5% had smoking and alcohol issues. Boys were significantly more likely to be in the higher-risk groups.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a college student, your unhealthy habits likely don’t exist in isolation—they probably connect to other behaviors. Health programs should address multiple problems together rather than focusing on just one issue. This is especially important for young men who show higher rates of serious risk clustering.

The Research Details

Researchers surveyed 752 college students across six colleges in Chandigarh, India using a questionnaire about their behaviors. They asked about eating habits, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, injuries, violence, and thoughts of suicide. The students filled out the questionnaire themselves without researchers present. The researchers then used a special statistical method called latent class analysis to find patterns—essentially grouping students who had similar combinations of risky behaviors together. They looked at whether being male or female affected which group students fell into.

Instead of studying each unhealthy behavior separately, this approach reveals how behaviors cluster together in real life. This matters because addressing multiple connected problems at once is more effective than treating them individually. Understanding these patterns helps public health officials design better programs that tackle the root causes affecting young people.

This was a representative survey, meaning the students studied were fairly representative of college students in that city. The researchers used established statistical methods to identify patterns. However, students self-reported their behaviors, which means some might not have answered honestly about sensitive topics like substance use or violence. The study was conducted at one point in time, so we can’t determine if these behaviors cause each other or just happen together.

What the Results Show

The study identified four distinct groups of students with different risk patterns. The largest group (74%) consisted of students whose main problems were unhealthy eating and not getting enough exercise—these were the most common risks across all students. The second-largest group (12%) experienced violence or injuries. A smaller group (9%) had multiple serious risks including substance use, unsafe behaviors, and thoughts of suicide. The smallest group (5%) primarily struggled with smoking and alcohol use. Importantly, poor diet and lack of exercise appeared in all four groups, suggesting these are nearly universal problems among college students in this population.

A striking finding was the gender difference: boys were significantly more likely than girls to be in the higher-risk groups, particularly those involving substance use, violence, and multiple serious risks. Girls were more likely to be in the largest group with mainly diet and exercise problems. This suggests that young men face different or more severe behavioral health challenges during college years.

Previous research has typically studied individual risk behaviors separately. This study adds to growing evidence that young people often experience multiple interconnected health risks simultaneously. The finding that diet and physical activity problems are nearly universal aligns with global trends showing these as major public health concerns for youth. The gender differences observed here are consistent with other studies showing that young men tend to engage in more high-risk behaviors.

Students reported their own behaviors, which may not be completely accurate, especially for sensitive topics. The study captured only one moment in time, so we can’t tell if these behavior patterns change over time or cause each other. The research was conducted in one Indian city, so results may not apply to college students in other regions or countries. The study didn’t explore why these behaviors cluster together or what causes them.

The Bottom Line

College health programs should address multiple behavioral risks simultaneously rather than focusing on single issues (moderate confidence). Young men should be targeted for interventions addressing substance use, violence prevention, and sexual health (moderate-to-high confidence). All college students would benefit from nutrition and physical activity programs (high confidence). Mental health screening should be integrated into college health services, especially for students with multiple risk factors (moderate confidence).

College students, especially young men, should care about these findings. Parents of college-age children should understand that their children likely face multiple interconnected health challenges. College health administrators and policymakers should use this information to design comprehensive programs. High school students preparing for college should be aware of these common risks. Healthcare providers working with young adults should screen for multiple behavioral risks rather than addressing them one at a time.

Changes in diet and exercise habits may show health benefits within 4-8 weeks. Reducing substance use could show improvements in energy and mental clarity within days to weeks. Violence prevention and mental health improvements typically require longer-term intervention, often 3-6 months or more to see meaningful change.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track three behaviors daily: (1) meals eaten and their nutritional quality, (2) minutes of physical activity, and (3) any substance use or risky situations encountered. This captures the most common risks identified in the study.
  • Start with one small change: commit to 30 minutes of physical activity three times per week, combined with adding one serving of vegetables to each meal. Since diet and exercise were universal challenges, these changes address the most common risks affecting college students.
  • Weekly check-ins on the app to review your three tracked behaviors. Set reminders for meals and exercise. If you notice clustering of risky behaviors (like skipping exercise AND eating poorly on the same days), use the app to identify triggers and plan alternatives. For young men, add monthly check-ins on substance use and safety to catch concerning patterns early.

This research describes patterns observed in college students in India and may not apply to all populations. The findings are based on self-reported information and represent associations, not proven cause-and-effect relationships. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling with substance use, thoughts of suicide, or experiencing violence, please contact a healthcare provider, counselor, or crisis helpline immediately. College health services and mental health professionals can provide personalized guidance based on your individual situation.