The 5 Lifestyle Habits That Make or Break College Mental Health

Dr. Ryan Patel, senior staff psychiatrist at The Ohio State University, shares a practical, evidence-based roadmap for helping young adults thrive during the most turbulent years of brain and behavior development.

Across this deep dive, Dr. Patel explains why 18–24-year-olds are a distinct clinical population and how day-to-day habits can make or break academic performance, quality of life, and long-term health. He also discusses his work on the KIND Trial (Ketogenic Intervention in Depression) and how those results can help to inform care.

In this conversation, Dr. Patel shares:

• Why college students require a different clinical lens
• An overview of his five high-impact interventions: sleep, nutrient-dense nutrition, physical activity, mindful tech use, and stress management
• How lifestyle factors drive anxiety, depression, and dropout risk (and how to reverse course)
• Practical ways campuses and clinicians can scale prevention
• Insights from the KIND Trial: feasibility of ketosis in students and notable mood improvements
• When and how to consider ketogenic therapy alongside standard care for depression

👍 To learn more about metabolic health and mental well-being, subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more research, stories, and emerging evidence.

👉For more information on the KIND study, checkout our blog: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/news-views/blog/perspectives-in-metabolic-psychiatry/kind-osu-keto-depression-study/

👉Check out the Youth Mental Health Hub for even more information and resources: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/topics/youth-mental-health/

Expert Featured:

Dr. Ryan Patel

• Blog: https://u.osu.edu/emotionalfitness/

Resources Mentioned:

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03544-8

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About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.