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Healthy Living

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Naturally, you will be concerned that your student stays healthy and well throughout the year. Several on campus resources are available to support your student in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

If at anytime you are unsure about the emotional well being of your student, please contact the Office of Residential Life. Many college students struggle with things in their lives during these formative years and we want to partner with you to ensure their health and success.

Student Involvement

Studies show that involvement outside of the classroom leads to academic success and persistence to graduation. There are several opportunities for your student to get involved outside of the classroom. Joining floor/house government, playing a sport, or becoming a member of a club are sources of making friends, learning valuable skills, and contributing to the UCLA community. While your student’s primary focus should be his/her academic responsibilities, a few hours a week of co-curricular activities will support a holistic learning experience.

The Office of Residential Life provides involvement opportunities that are shaped by the four core objectives they aim to meet: support the academic mission, create safe environments, promote responsible citizenship, and foster student development within the residential community. The Core 4 helps guide the healthy development of your college student through the programs, leadership opportunities, and resources that are offered regularly. We invite you to visit our get involved page to learn about the opportunities we are providing to your student.

Making and Maintaining Friendships in College

Having positive and healthy friendships is an important component of a successful and enjoyable college experience. Many students have grown up with a constant group of friends and college can be one of the first times that students need to actively seek out new friends. Assist your student in making and maintaining friendships in college using the following tips:

  • Promote his/her participation in welcome events. These are designed to help students meet each other and find ways of becoming involved on campus. Plus, everyone is new, which will help reduce your student’s feelings of being "the only one."
  • Encourage your student to do homework outside of his/her room. The residential communities have common lounges and there are plenty of places outdoors to study. If your student is more comfortable in his/her room, encourage leaving the door open when s/he is in the room to say hello to passersby.
  • Invite him/her to talk to one new person a day. By asking a classmate a question about homework, or a floormate about a fun weekend idea, your student can make new friends more easily.
  • Encourage him/her to join clubs and groups. This is the easiest way to meet new people with similar interests. Remind your student not to be afraid of going by themselves - everyone is during the first few weeks of college.
  • Remind your student to smile and say hello. Simply being friendly with classmates and other residential students will help your student find friends in no time.
  • Support your student’s efforts to make friends and remind him/her not to give up. All new students are finding their way around campus in the first year and it may take some time before your student really starts meeting people s/he connects with.

Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Most college students have heard warnings about gaining the dreaded "freshman 15." College offers students the freedom to choose the quality and frequency of their meals, a responsibility that some are managing for the first time. Developing healthy eating habits is an important skill to gain, as studies show that nutritional meals are not only important for overall health, but to improve academic performance as well. Here are a few tips you can pass along to your son/daughter:

  • Remind him/her to eat a good breakfast. Studies show that skipping breakfast detracts from scholastic achievement. When there is not time to sit down and enjoy the morning meal, suggest a bagel, piece of fruit, and some juice.
  • Encourage him/her to keep healthful snacks on hand so if hunger strikes during a late night study session, s/he will not be tempted by vending machine candy, chips, or ice cream. Possibilities include fresh or dried fruit, pretzels, unbuttered popcorn, rice cakes, and raw vegetables with low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese dip.
  • Sugar provides calories in a student’s diet, but few other nutrients and it contributes significantly to tooth decay. Remind your student to eat it sparingly!
  • The dining hall salad bar can be either an asset or a detriment to your student’s diet depending on how s/he chooses from it. Of course, leafy greens, raw vegetable and fresh fruit are beneficial. Encourage him/her to stay away from creamy dressings, bacon bits, and mayonnaise based salads.
  • Remind your student that alcohol supplies calories and no nutritional value. A light beer, a glass of wine, or an ounce of liquor each has about 100 calories.
  • Encourage your student to drink lots of water. The human body needs at least eight glasses a day, and if s/he exercises vigorously, s/he may need more. Remind him/her to carry a water bottle along to class and keep it handy during late night study sessions.

- adapted from the University of Oregon

Alcohol Use in College

Students often perceive alcohol use as a central part of the college campus culture. While it is natural for students to experiment in college, it is important that they make healthy and safe decisions when trying new things.

Did you know?

  • Most UCLA students are relatively moderate in their drinking behavior. 80% of surveyed undergraduates report consuming 0-4 drinks in one sitting. (UCLA Center for Women and Men)
  • 25% of Bruins report that they drink no alcohol whatsoever. (UCLA Center for Women and Men)
  • While less than 20% of Bruins engage in heavy drinking, the national average for college students is 40%. (UCLA Ashe Center)
  • Nationwide, 1/3 of college students admit to missing at least one class because of their alcohol or drug use. (http://factsontap.org)
  • The average college student spends nearly $900 on alcohol each year, compared to just $450 on books. (http://factsontap.org)
  • 66% of intimate partner violence involves alcohol. (http://factsontap.org)
  • 31% of stranger violence involves alcohol. (http://factsontap.org)

You can encourage healthy choices by having a conversation with your student about alcohol use.

  • Listen. Ask your student to talk about their knowledge of alcohol and other drugs without judging or jumping to conclusions.
  • Make your expectations clear. Emphasize importance of academic work and personal development in college.
  • Get and share the facts. College students grossly overestimate the use of alcohol by their peers, and underestimate its negative effects.
  • Help your student take a stand. Discuss ways to handle situations involving alcohol and teach him/her how to have the courage to intervene in a dangerous situation. (U.S. Department of Education & the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention)