Understanding the Perceived Determinants of Weight-related Behaviors in Late Adolescence: A Qualitative Analysis among College Youth
Abstract
Objective
Identify key factors underlying college weight gain, nutrition, and physical activity.
Design
Six focus groups and one-on-one interviews.
Setting
Large, public Midwestern university.
Participants
Fifty full-time freshman and sophomore students.
Main Outcome Measures
Factors influencing weight and weight-related behaviors among undergraduates.
Analysis
Qualitative analysis using a specific thematic approach, identifying themes appearing consistently across transcripts from recorded sessions.
Results
Major themes that emerged in describing important influences on weight, dietary intake, and physical activity included: unhealthful food availability on campus, snacking, late-night eating, alcohol-related eating, eating because of stress/boredom, and food in student dorm rooms. Other factors related to physical activity included: negative experiences using campus recreation facilities; poor weather; and lack of time/time management, motivation, and social support for exercise.
Conclusions and Implications
A wide range of factors may underlie weight gain and unhealthful diet and physical activity patterns during the college years. Young adulthood is an important and overlooked area for obesity prevention efforts. Universities need to take an active role in designing and evaluating weight-related health promotion intervention strategies focusing on a variety of targets, including individual-, social-, and environmental-level influences.
1Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, University of Texas, Austin Regional Campus, Austin, TX
Address for correspondence: Melissa Nelson, PhD, RD, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St, WBOB Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015; Phone: (612) 624-8832; Fax: (612) 624-0315
This research was funded by a grant from the Minnesota Medical Foundation. Additional salary support was provided by the University of Minnesota Obesity Prevention Center.
ABSTRACT