It has been shown that college students practice poor dietary habits that fail to meet dietary recommendations. This seems realistic since the transition from high school to college is filled with many significant changes and challenges for students. The poor choices college students often make impact their health and often times result in diets that lack essential
nutrients and present unwanted weight gain. Behaviors practiced at a young age have long term health consequences, one of them being the development of obesity. Not only is obesity the leading predictor of obesity later in adulthood, but it also increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke.
In addition to the general college population, students involved in a health major have also shown to have poor dietary habits. When compared to students in other disciplines, health majors showed no difference in dietary behaviors. It is apparent that possessing health and nutrition related knowledge does not change dietary habits. This is an unsettling fact
considering that these health majors will one day be providing health information to the general population. It may be hard for the general population to follow health information provided to them when the provider doesn’t practice this health information themselves.
Research had indicated that dietary habits among college students was poor, however limited studies existed to display the difference in dietary habits over a length of time. A study was conducted to understand whether dietary behaviors among college students have changed between the years 2003 and 2013. Results of the study indicated that although still falling short of dietary recommendations, college students have made dietary improvements between the two years sampled. Dairy, protein, and vegetable consumption all significantly increased between the years 2003 and 2013.
51
Research, although limited, also indicated that dietary habits between health majors and majors of other disciplines did not differ. A study was conducted to confirm these results and add to the current literature. Results of the study indicated that there were in fact no dietary differences between health majors and majors of other disciplines.
The results of the first study indicated a promising path for future college students. It is shown that although not yet meeting dietary recommendations, college students are eating better than they were ten years ago. With continued education and practice, college students are sure to better their current dietary habits and reach dietary recommendations. The results of the second study showed the need for following recommended nutrition practices within the core educational main for health majors. Not only is it important for individuals to know and understand this information, but have the ability to practice it in their own lives.
52
REFERENCES
American College Health Association. (2012). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Spring 2012. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.
American College Health Association. (2013). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Spring 2013. Hanover, MD: American College Health Association.
Anding, J. D., Suminski, R. R., & Boss, L. (2001). Dietary intake, body mass index, exercise, and alcohol: are college women following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Journal of American College Health, 49, 167-171.
Bleich, S. N., Bennet, W. L., Gudzune, K. A., & Cooper, L. A. (2012). Impact of physicians BMI on obesity care and beliefs. Obesity, 20(5), 999-1005.
Block, G., Gillespie, C., Rosenbaum, E. H., & Jenson, C. (2000). A rapid food screener to assess fat and fruit and vegetable intake. American Journal of Preventative Medicine,
18, 284-288.
Booth, S. L., Sallis, J. F., Ritenbaugh, C., Hill, J. O., Birch, I. L., Frank, L. D., et al. (2001). Environmental and societal factors affect food choice and physical activity: rationale, influences, and leverage points. Nutrition Reviews, 59(Suppl 2). S21-S39.
Boucher, D., Cote, F., & Gagne, C. (2012). Promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables in high school students: implementation of the mapping intervention protocol. Global
53
Bravo, M. A., Martin, U. N., & Gonzalez, G. A. (2006). Evaluation of dietary habits of a population of university students in relation with their nutritional knowledge. Nutrcion
Hospitalaria, 21(4), 466-473.
Brevard, P. B., & Ricketts, C. D. (1996). Residence of college students affects dietary intake, physical activity, and serum lipid levels. Journal of the American Dietetic Association,
96, 35-38.
Brown, L. B., Dresen, R. K., & Eggett, D. (2005). College students can benefit by participating in a prepaid meal plan. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 105, 445-448. Brunt, A., & Rhee, Y. (2008). Obesity and lifestyle in U.S. college students related to living
arrangements. Appetite, 51, 615-621.
Brunt, A., & Rhee, Y., Zhong, L. (2008). Differences in dietary patterns among college students according to body mass index. Journal of American College of Health, 56, 629-634. Burckes-Miller, M. E., & Black, D. R. (1988). Male and female college athletes: prevalence of
anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Journal of Athletic Training, 22, 137-140. CDC. (2011). BMI – Body Mass Index: About BMI for Adults. Retrieved Jan 10, 2013, from
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html
Chapman, G., & Maclean, J. (1993). “Junk food” and “health food”. Meanings of food in adolescent women’s culture. Journal of Nutrition and Education, 25, 108-113. Davy, S. R., Benes, B. A., & Driskell, J. A. (2006). Sex differences in dieting trends, eating
habits, and nutrition beliefs of a group of Midwestern college students. Journal of the
American Dietetic Association, 106, 1673-1677.
Debate, R. D., Topping, M., & Sargent, R. G. (2001). Racial and gender differences in weight status and dietary practices among college students. Adolescence, 36, 819-833.
54
Dietary Reference Intakes. (2002). Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids. Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), Institute of Medicine (IOM). Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Accessed April, 2014.
Drewnowski, A., & Darmon, N. (2005). The economics of obesity: dietary energy density and energy cost. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 82, 2655-2735.
Engeland, A., Bjorge, T., Tverdal, A., & Sogaard, A. J. (2004). Obesity in adolescence and adulthood and the risk of adult mortality. Epidemiology, 15(1), 79-85.
Freedman, M. R. (2010). Gender, residence and ethnicity affect freshman BMI and dietary habits. American Journal of Health Behavior, 34(5), 513-524.
Garrow, J. S., & Webster, J. (1985). Quetelet’s index (W/H2) as a measure of fatness.
International Journal of Obesity, 9, 147-153.
Grace, T. W. (1997). Health problems of college students. Journal of American College Health,
45, 243-250.
Graham, D. J., Pelletier, J. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Lust, K., & Laska, M. N. (2013). Perceived social-ecological factors associated with fruit and vegetable purchasing, preparation, and consumption among young adults. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics, 113(10), 1366-1374.
Gutierrez-Salmean, G., Meaney, A., Ocharan, M. E., Araugo, J. M., Ramirez-Sanchez, I., Olivares-Corichi, I. M., Garcia-Sanchez, R., Castillo, G., Mendez-Bolaina, E., Meaney, E., & Ceballos, G. (2013). Anthropometric traits, blood pressure, and dietary and physical exercise habits in health sciences students; The Obesity Observatory Project.
55
Ha, E. J., & Caine-Bish, N. Effect of nutrition interventions using a general nutrition course for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among college students. Journal of Nutrition
Education and Behavior, 41, 103-109.
Hendricks, K. M., Herbold, N., & Fung, T. (2004). Diet and other lifestyle behaviors in young college women. Nutrition Research, 24, 981-991.
Hiza, H., & Gerrior, S. (2002). Using the Interactive Healthy Eating Index to assess the quality of college students diets. Family Economics and Nutrition Review, 14, 3-11.
Hoffman, D. J., Policastro, P., Quick, V., & Lee, S. K. (2006). Changes in body weight and fat mass of men and women in the first year of college: a study of the “freshman 15”.
Journal of American College Health, 55, 41-55.
Horacek, T. M., White, A., Betts, N. M., Hoerr, S., Georgion, C., Nitzke, S., Ma, J., & Greene, G. (2002). Self-efficacy perceived benefits, and weight satisfaction discriminate among stages of change for fruit and vegetable intakes for young men and women. Journal of
the American Dietetic Association, 102(10), 1466-1470.
Huang, T. T-K., Harris, K. J., Lee, R. E., Nazir, N., Born, W., & Kaur, H. (2003). Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physical activity in college students. Journal of American
College Health, 52, 83-86.
Hyson, D. A. (2011). Fruits, vegetables, and health: a scientific overview. Produce for Better
Health. <http://www.pbhfoundation.org>.
Irazusta, A., Gil, S., Ruiz, F., Gondra, J., Jauregi, A., Irazusta, J., & Gil, J. (2006). Exercise, physical fitness, and dietary habits of first-year female nursing students. Biological
56
James, W. P. (2008). WHO recognition of the global obesity epidemic. International Journal of
Obesity, 30,120-126.
Jauregui-Lobera, I., & Bolanos-Rios, P. (2011). What motivates the consumer’s food choice?
Nutricion Hospitalaria, 26(6), 1313-1321.
Kicklighter, J. R., Koonce, V. J., Rosenbloom, C. A., & Commander, N. E. (2010). College freshmen perceptions of effective and ineffective aspects of nutrition education. Journal
of American College Health, 59(2), 98-104.
Kolodinsky, J., Harvey-Berino, J. R., Berlin, L., Johnson, R. K., & Reynolds, T. W. (2007). Knowledge of current dietary guidelines and food choice by college students: better eaters have higher knowledge of dietary guidance. Journal of the American Dietetic
Association, 107, 1409-1413.
Pi-Sunyer, F. X. (1993). Medical hazards of obesity. Annals of Internal Medicine, 119, 655-660. Silliman, K., Rodas-Fortier, K., & Neyman, M. (2004). A survey of dietary and exercise habits
and perceived barrier to following a healthy lifestyle in a college population. Californian
Journal of Health Promotion, 2, 10-19.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office, December, 2010. Accessed April, 2014.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1995). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 1995. 4th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S Government
57
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Dietary Guidelines for American, 2005. 6th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office, Accessed April1, 2014.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office. Accessed April 1, 2014.
Wengreen, H. J., & Moncur, C. (2009). Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight among young- adults during the transition from high school to college. Nutrition
58
APPENDIX A. DIETARY VARIETY QUESTIONAIRE
DIRECTIONS: Think about what you ate over the last THREE days. Write in the number of times you ate each of these foods.
LIST OF FOODS
13. milk 27. nuts and seeds 41. hot cereal
14. yogurt 28. pizza 42. cold cereal 15. cheese 29. green leafy vegetables 43. pasta 16. ice cream/milk-
based desserts
30. orange and yellow veggies 44. rice 17. other dairy 31. tomatoes/tomato products 45. other grains 18. eggs 32. potatoes & other root crops 46. margarine,
butter, & oils 19. poultry (i.e., chicken) 33. other vegetables 47. sweet baked
goods / desserts
20. beef 34. citrus fruits 48. salty snacks
21. pork 35. berries 49. candy
22. lamb, veal, game 36. melons 50. diet soft drinks
23. fish 37. other fruit 51. regular soft
drinks
24. liver/organ meats 38. fruit juice 52. alcoholic beverages 25. processed meats 39. white bread 53. liquid supplements
(e.g., Slim Fast) 26. beans & legumes 40. whole-wheat bread 54. water DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Age: _______________ 8. Classification: ____ Freshman
2. Sex: ____ Male ____ Sophomore
____ Female ____ Junior
3. Race: ____ White ____ Senior
____ Black ____ Graduate
____ Native American 9. Major _______ ____ Other: ____ 10. Height _______ (ft/in)
4. Smoke: ____ Yes 11. Weight _______ (lbs)
____ No 12. Do you take supplements?
5. Living: ____ On-Campus with Meal Plan ___ Yes ___ No
____ On-Campus without Meal Plan a. If yes, how frequently? ____ Off-Campus with Meal Plan ___ 1-2 x/mo ____ Off-Campus without Meal Plan ___ 1-2 x/wk
____Sorority or Fraternity housing ___ almost everyday ____ At Home with Parent(s)/Guardian ___ everyday
b. Kinds: _______
6. Ever had a nutrition class ____ Yes ____ No 7. Currently Dieting? ____ Yes ____ No
59
60