Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: May | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 314-319
Changes in Fruit, Vegetable, and Fiber Intake among College Students: Effect of an Introductory Nutrition Course Intervention
Dara Dirhan
Ed.D, MPH, RDN, LDN, West Chester University of Pennsylvania - (570) 237-2328
ABSTRACT
This quasi-experimental study used a pre-test and post-test design approach to determine the affect a 10-week introductory nutrition course had on dietary fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake of students who completed the course. Dietary behavior change interventions are needed among college students, as this is a period of excess weight gain and poor dietary behaviors. While weight gain and poor eating habits and behaviors have been identified as common undertakings by college students, little is known about the effectiveness of dietary intake change among college students after the completion of an introductory nutrition course. Furthermore, there is not any existing literature to indicate if the completion of a short-term, 10-week dietary behavior change course can change students’ dietary intake. Dietary behavior change interventions rooted in Social Cognitive Theory have been shown to have one of the greatest impacts on changing dietary behaviors among college students. The 10-week introductory nutrition course in this study included a dietary behavior change intervention that was rooted in Social Cognitive Theory, making it desirable to elicit dietary behavior change. It was the researchers hope that the results of this study would highlight the importance of making an introductory nutrition course with a dietary behavior change intervention, modeled after the Social Cognitive Theory, a mandatory component of the undergraduate college curriculum in order to improve college students’ dietary intake.
Key words: Nutrition, college students, dietary behavior change, fruit, vegetables, fiber