Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 4 , Pages 287-292 , July 2009

Understanding the Perceived Determinants of Weight-related Behaviors in Late Adolescence: A Qualitative Analysis among College Youth

  • Melissa C. Nelson, PhD, RD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress 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
    • ,
  • Rebecca Kocos, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
    • ,
  • Leslie A. Lytle, PhD, RD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
    • ,
  • Cheryl L. Perry, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, University of Texas, Austin Regional Campus, Austin, TX

References 

  1. Gordon-Larsen P, Adair LS, Nelson MC, Popkin BM. Five-year obesity incidence in the transition period between adolescence and adulthood. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80:569–575
  2. Nelson MC, Story M, Larson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Lytle LA. Emerging adulthood and college-aged youth: an overlooked age for weight-related behavior change. Obesity. 2008;16:2205–2211
  3. Nelson M, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan P, Sirard J, Story M. Longitudinal and secular trends in physical activity and sedentary behavior during adolescence. Pediatrics. 2006;118:1627–1634
  4. Demory-Luce D, Morales M, Nicklas T, Baranowski T, Zakeri I, Berenson G. Changes in food group consumption patterns from childhood to young adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:1684–1691
  5. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance: National College Health Risk Behavior Survey—United States, 1995. MMWR Surveill Summ. 1997;46:1–56
  6. Huang TT, Harris KJ, Lee RE, Nazir N, Born W, Kaur H. Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physical activity in college students. J Am Coll Health. 2003;52:83–86
  7. Debate RD, Topping M, Sargent RG. Racial and gender differences in weight status and dietary practices among college students. Adolescence. 2001;36:819–833
  8. Butler SM, Black DR, Blue CL, Gretebeck RJ. Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight in female college freshman. Am J Health Behav. 2004;28:24–32
  9. Racette SB, Deusinger SS, Strube MJ, Highstein GR, Deusinger RH. Weight changes, exercise, and dietary patterns during freshman and sophomore years of college. J Am Coll Health. 2005;53:245–251
  10. Buckworth J, Nigg C. Physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior in college students. J Am Coll Health. 2004;53:28–34
  11. Levitsky DA, Halbmaier CA, Mrdjenovic G. The freshman weight gain: a model for the study of the epidemic of obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004;28:1435–1442
  12. Anderson DA, Shapiro JR, Lundgren JD. The freshman year of college as a critical period for weight gain: an initial evaluation. Eat Behav. 2003;4:363–367
  13. Racette SB, Deusinger SS, Strube MJ, Highstein GR, Deusinger RH. Changes in weight and health behaviors from freshman through senior year of college. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2008;40:39–42
  14. Driskell JA, Kim YN, Goebel KJ. Few differences found in the typical eating and physical activity habits of lower-level and upper-level university students. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105:798–801
  15. Baranowski T, Perry CL, Parcel GS. How individuals, environments, and health behavior interact: Social Cognitive Theory. In:  Glanz K,  Rimer BK,  Lewis FM editor. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers; 2002;p. 165–184
  16. Miles MB, Huberman AM. Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.; 1994;
  17. World Health Organization. Physical Status: The Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1995;WHO Technical Report Series 854
  18. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Society for Nutrition Education, and American School Food Service Association. Nutrition services: an essential component of comprehensive school health programs. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2003;35:57–67
  19. Center for Science in the Public Interest. The School Foods Report Card. Available at: http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/sf_reportcard.pdf. Accessed April 22, 2009.
  20. Neumark-Sztainer D, French SA, Hannan PJ, Story M, Fulkerson JA. School lunch and snacking patterns among high school students: associations with school food environment and policies. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2005;2:14
  21. French SA, Jeffery RW, Story M, et al. Pricing and promotion effects on low-fat vending snack purchases: The CHIPS Study. Am J Public Health. 2001;91:112–117
  22. French SA, Jeffery RW, Story M, Hannan P, Snyder MP. A pricing strategy to promote low-fat snack choices through vending machines. Am J Public Health. 1997;87:849–851
  23. French SA, Story M, Fulkerson JA, Hannan P. An environmental intervention to promote lower-fat food choices in secondary schools: outcomes of the TACOS Study. Am J Public Health. 2004;94:1507–1512
  24. French SA, Wechsler H. School-based research and initiatives: fruit and vegetable environment, policy, and pricing workshop. Prev Med. 2004;39(Suppl 2):S101–S107
  25. Fulkerson JA, French SA, Story M, Nelson H, Hannan PJ. Promotions to increase lower-fat food choices among students in secondary schools: description and outcomes of TACOS (Trying Alternative Cafeteria Options in Schools). Public Health Nutr. 2004;7:665–674
  26. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? Examining the Evidence. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences; 2005;Transportation Research Board Special Report 282

 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.

PII: S1499-4046(08)00686-6

doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2008.05.005

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 4 , Pages 287-292 , July 2009

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