Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2020
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Health and Nutritional Sciences
First Advisor
Kendra Kattelmann
Abstract
Many young adults experience unwanted weight gain upon entering college. Making healthy choices in a food environment with a plethora of convenience and fast foods is important for preventing unwanted weight gain. The objective of this study was to determine if a Healthy Campus Dining Tour intervention improves perception, behavior, and priorities related to healthier choices on campus. Participants were recruited for this quasi-experimental study from freshman introductory classes at a land-grant public university and assigned to intervention or a control group. Intervention participants completed a 50-minute Healthy Campus Dining Tour that educated on how to make healthier choices at each of the campus dining locations (vending, convenience, kiosk, and all-you-can-eat dining).Both groups were assessed pre- and post- intervention for agreement with questions assessing perception of healthful food choices in the campus environment (12 questions), frequency of certain healthful dietary behaviors (12 questions) and importance of food choice priorities (24 questions). Outcomes were dichotomized as more or less positive responses and logistic regression was used to determine odds of responses between intervention and control. There were a total 120 participants (n=45 intervention, n=75 control) that completed the surveys. Most participants were 18 years of age, female, white, of freshmen status, and lived in a campus residence hall. Greater odds of perceiving healthier foods in restaurants [OR(CI), 2.9 (1.3-6.5)], dining halls [2.1, (0.9-4.7)], and vending [8.1 (3.4-18.7)] were seen in intervention group versus control group. Odds of increased frequency of healthful behaviors and increased importance of food choice priorities did not differ between groups. Participation in the Healthy Campus Dining Tour intervention was associated with greater odds of agreeable perceptions regarding availability of healthy foods on campus. Additional programming and environmental changes may be necessary to change food behavior and priorities.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
College freshmen -- Nutrition.
College freshmen -- Health and hygiene.
Health attitudes.
Health behavior.
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
47
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Pappadackis, Paige, "Effects of a Campus Dining Tour Intervention on First Year Students Perception of Healthfulness of Environment" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3757.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/3757
Included in
Rights Statement
