Eating behaviors and the perceived nutrition environment among college students

Abstract

Objectives: To assess eating behaviors and identify whether there is an association between eating behaviors and the perceived nutrition environment among college students. Participants: College students (n = 180) actively living on campus during the 2019–2020 academic school year. Methods: Cross- sectional study utilizing the validated NEMS-P survey tool to collect all data. A multivariate logistics regression was used to assess the association between eating behaviors and the perceived nutrition environment. Results: Statistically significant association noted between perceived higher cost of healthy eating and decreased consumption of fruit (p = .027), availability of nutrition information (healthy eating signs) and increased vegetable and fruit consumption (p = .018, p = 0.010) and increased ease of purchasing fruits and vegetables and increased consumption (p = 0.037). Conclusion: The campus nutrition environment can provide students the opportunity to learn about and practice healthy eating through available foods and beverages, nutrition education and signs that encourage healthy eating throughout the campus.

Keywords:

• College health
• eating behaviors
• nutrition environment

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from New Mexico State University Office of Research Integrity and Ethics.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.

Contributions

SM collected all data, SM and LM organized the data, wrote the first draft and final version together and conducted the statistical analysis; both authors have approved the final version of this manuscript.