Changes in Eating and Physical Activity Behaviors Across Seven Semesters of College:

Living On or Off Campus Matters

Author(s): Meg Small, Lisa Bailey-Davis, Nicole Morgan and Jennifer Maggs
Source: Health Education & Behavior , August 2013, Vol. 40, No. 4, Theme Section:
Adolescent Health (August 2013), pp. 435-441
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc.

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/45088103

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Adolescent Health : Article

Health Education & Behavior

40(4) 435-441
Changes in Eating and Physical Activity © 20 1 2 Society for Public
Health Education

Behaviors Across Seven Semesters of Reprints and permissions:

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DOI: 1 0.1 177/10901981 12467801

College: Living On or Off Campus Matters heb.sagepub.com

®SAGE

Meg Small, PhD1, Lisa Bailey-Davis, MA, RD2, Nicole Morgan, MS1,
and Jennifer Maggs, PhD1

Abstract

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is an important period for establishing behavioral patterns
long-term health and chronic disease risk. Nelson and colleagues speculated that developmental changes a
in living situation may play an important role in the nutrition and physical activity behaviors of college stud
from the University Life Study, a longitudinal study of college students that includes web-based surveys adm
14 consecutive days each semester, were used to examine fruit, vegetable, and sugared soda consumption, physica
and sedentary activity behaviors across seven semesters. Estimates for each semester were calculated to determ
frequency with which students consumed fruits, vegetables, and sugared soda, engaged in moderate to vigorou
activity, and engaged in sedentary activities. Four models, estimated with HLM 6.04, were used to predict
these behaviors across the seven semesters. Living on or off campus was included to determine if this explaine
variance. Results indicated that few college students consumed fruits and vegetables or exercised at optimal lev
the seven semesters surveyed. Daily fruit and vegetable consumption and daily physical activity declined signi
from the first to the seventh semester. For both of these findings, living off campus exacerbated the problem
number of hours of sedentary behaviors declined over time, as did number of days on which at least one suga
was consumed. Living location did not explain additional variance in these positive trends. Implications for policy
and future research are discussed.

Keywords
adolescents, college students, nutrition, obesity, physical activity, prevention

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is an important food groups (Kolodinsky, Harvey-Berino, Berlin, Johnson,
period for establishing behavioral patterns that affect long- & Reyonlds, 2007). Eating patterns are typically low for
term health and chronic disease risk. However, many college fruit, vegetables, and dietary fiber (Georgiou et al., 1997;
students engage in behaviors that decrease the likelihood of opti- Greene et al., 2011; Huang et al., 2003; Racette et al., 2008)
mal health and increase the likelihood of overweight and obesity and high in fast food and alcohol (Nelson, Lust, Story, &
(Huang et al., 2003; Levitsky, Halbmaier, & Mrdjenovic, 2004; Ehlinger, 2009; Vella-Zarb & Elgar, 2009).
Racette, Deusinger, Strube, Highstein, & Deusinger, 2008). In addition to poor dietary behaviors, many college stu-
Several studies have examined freshman year weight gain, dents further compromise their health by frequently drinking
with most supporting a significant weight gain less than the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). SSBs have been associ-
mythical freshman 15 pounds (Cluskey & Grobe, 2009; ated with increased energy intake and body weight (Vartanian,
Mihalopoulos, Auinger, & Klein, 2008; Morrow et al., 2006; Schwartz, & Brownell, 2007), cardiometabolic risk (Duffey,
Vella-Zarb & Elgar, 2009). Importantly, studies that have Gordon-Larsen, Steffen, Jacobs, & Popkin, 2010), and dia-
looked beyond the freshman year have demonstrated that betes (Schulze, Manson, & Ludwig, 2004). West et al. (2006)
weight gain continues throughout years of college study
(Racette et al., 2008). In fact, college students are gaining 'The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
weight at a rate almost 6 times that of the general population 2Geisinger Healthy System, Danville, PA, USA

(Mihalopoulos et al., 2008). Even in the absence of weight

Corresponding Author:
gain, the nutritional status of college students is far from Meg Small, The Pennsylvania State University, 108 South Henderson,
optimal. Only one in three college students consume a diet University Park, PA 16802, USA.
consistent with national recommendations across a variety of Email: [email protected]

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436 Health Education & Behavior 40(4)

found that many (65%)and collegesoccer students

fields for consumed
studen
one SSB daily. SSB intaketake increases
three credits between of childh
health
young adulthood (Demory-Luce,
different Morales, activity-based & Nicklas cou
making the college years a particularly important
establish healthy beverage choices.
Method
As with their dietary behaviors, most college stu
Data used
physical activity patterns arein the
notcurrent
atanalyses were drawnlevels
optimal from the
University
riorate over time. One in three Life Study, a longitudinal
college study of daily
students arelife
and tend to become less experiences among college active
physically students. The through
University Life
college years (Huang et
Studyal.,
used a 2003;
measurementKolodinsky et
burst design, with a semester
survey followed
Morrow et al., 2006; Racette et byal.,14 consecutive
2008; daily surveys during
Vella-Zarb
2009). Eating practices each
and physical
of seven activity
semesters (fall freshman behav
year through fall
be influenced by living situations
senior year). At recruitment,(e.g., dorm,
eligible participants wereofffirst-
and whether the situation includes
year, first-time, and full-timeroommates or
students. A stratified random
(Kapiņos & Yakusheva, sampling
201 1 ; Nelson,
procedure was used to Laska, Graha
achieve a diverse sample
& Van Riper, 2010). Dormitory
with respect to genderliving can present
and race/ethnicity. During the first
week of fall classes,
able heterogeneity in relation to recruitment
the letters
spatial were sentdistrib
to selected
students. E-mail
eating and physical activity invitations followed,
places. For with secure links to the
example, m
dents who surveys
lived in a dorm administered
with via the World hall
a dining Wide Web. Students were
were mo
to eat more frequent meals and snacks,
invited to complete a semester surveyand
and thenfemale
14 consecu-
were more likely to gain weight
tive daily and
surveys. This procedureexercise
was repeated forless f
the sub-
(Kapiņos & Yakusheva, sequent
201 six 1). However,
semesters compared
of data collection. Data collection took w
dents who lived on campus,
place during off-campus
the same time periods in the students
fall and spring. w
likely to consume a large variety
Data were of final
not collected during fruits and
exams or spring ve
break.
(Brunt & Rhee, 2008). Although a lack
Students received an incentive of
($25 in place
Semester for
1, increasing
incrementally
activity has been identified as a to $40 in Semester 7)
barrier toto complete
exercise,the semesterpr
between dorm and campus survey and
gymswere thenappears
eligible for the to
$3 per daily survey
influenc
incentive Female
tion (Greaney et al., 2009). with a bonus ($8 to $18) if they completed
students who all li
dorm further from the 14 surveys. Participants
campus gym provided an electronic signature
exercised there on
(Kapiņos & Yakusheva, an online consent
2011). form. The study was
Proximity did approved
not by in
the
male students' physical institution's
activity patterns.
institutional review board and was protected by
Research suggests that changes
a federal Certificate of in living
Confidentiality. situation
In total, 746 students
(65.6%and
of college study, gender, responseenvironmental
rate) completed the baseline semester factor sur-
associated with nutrition and
vey, and physical
608 students completed theactivity beha
final semester survey,
weight changes in college
representing students.
an overall retention rateThe Univers
of 81.5% across the
seven semesters. A quarter (25%)
Study can advance our understanding of of howthe final sample
these
change over time and howreportedliving
Hispanic/Latinoon ethnicity.
or off Among campus
non-Hispanic/
Latinos,
a risk or protective role 36% identified
in their as European American,The
development. 31% as p
Asian American/Pacific
this study was to (a) describe the Islander American, 21% asof
prevalence African
ke
and activity behaviors American,
among and 12%college
as more than onestudents
race. Completion over
rates
semesters of college, (b)
for explore
the daily surveyschanges
were high across in eating
the seven semesters, a
withstudents
ical activity behaviors as most (79% to 88%)progressparticipants completing
through at least
and (c) explore how living
12 of 14 daily onsurveysor eachoff
semester.campus is a
with dietary and physical activity patterns.
The current study was conducted at a large univer
Personal Characteristics
the Northeastern United States where, among all un
uate students, 37% live At in
baseline, students were asked to report their gender.
university-owned or -op
Males were codedare
housing. First-year students as "1." Inrequired
each semester, students
to werelive in
seven on-campus housing complexes.
asked to report Each
their height and weight. These comp
variables were
Commons area with used to calculate
dining body mass index
options (BMI).
that include an
care to eat" choice served cafeteria style and in
meals offered at retail locations. Students must pu
Living Situation
basic meal plan with options to upgrade. The cam
two large fitness
facilities, four
Students were swimming
asked to report pools,
where they were living each te
ketball, racquetball, and squash
semester. These variablescourts, an(residence
were coded as on campus indoor i

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 Small et al. 437

hall) orFour models,

off estimated with HLM 6.04, were
camused to test
etc.). changes over time in these behaviors. Estimates were created w
Students
excluded from
for each dependent variable each semester, and the slope was t
tested for significance. Because of skew in the total
environment number
cou
living of days exercised and days sugared soda was consumed, a
situations.
parents Poisson distribution
in was used. any
Average fruit and vegetable g
1 to 4.7% in Semester 7. consumption and average number of hours spent in seden-
tary activity were normally distributed so a linear model was
used. Predictor variables included gender, semester (with
Dietary Behaviors Semester 1 centered at 0), and living on or off campus (off
Each of the 14 daily surveys included dietary items from thecampus coded as 1). To determine if nonrespondents at
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (Centers for Disease Control Semester 7 were systematically different from respondents,
and Prevention, 2005). Participants were instructed to means for the dependent variables were tested at Semester 1
answer for the previous day, for example, "This survey isusing analysis of variance.
about Friday [yesterday] from the time you woke up until
you went to sleep." Students reported the number of times
Results
they ate "Fruit (not including fruit juice)," "Green salad,"
"Carrots," and "Other vegetables (not including green saladsAt Semester 1, the mean age of respondents was 18.4 years
or potatoes)," or "Drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda or pop(SD = 0.4). About half (49.2%) were male. Men had a mean
such as Coke, Pepsi, or Sprite (not including diet soda or dietBMI of 23.6 kg/m2 (SD = 3.7), and women had a mean BMI
pop)." Response options were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5+ times.of 22.8 kg/m2 (SD = 4.3). As noted earlier, almost all
Fruit, carrots, green salad, and other vegetable variables (98.1%) students lived on campus in residence halls during
were summed and aggregated over the 14 days to create anSemester 1; by Semester 7, 12.3% lived in residence halls.
average daily fruit and vegetable variable. The most common off-campus living situations during
Semester 7 (fall of senior year) were apartments or houses
(71% of students). No significant differences were found
Physical Activity Behaviors between students who responded at Semester 7 (e.g., com-
Each day, participants were asked, "From the time you wokepleted the study) and those who did not respond (e.g., non-
up until you went to sleep, how much time did you spend completers) for any of the four dependent variables at
doing the following activities?" "Working out/playingSemester 1, indicating that differences detected in these
sports," "Watching TV," "Playing video or computer games,"variables are not likely the result of nonresponder bias.
and "Surfing the web" were 4 of the 19 daily activities for
which students were asked to provide time estimates, with
Dietary Behaviors
possible responses of "did not do", "did do for up to 30 min-
utes," "did do for 30 minutes to 60 minutes," "did do for oneTables 1 and 2 provide cross-sectional point estimates by
hour," and then increasing by hour increments to 10 + hours. semester. Changes across semesters are presented in the
Working out/playing sports was used as a proxy measure forfigures. During their first semester, college students con-
moderate to vigorous physical activity based on the meta- sumed fruits and vegetables on average 2.37 times per day
bolic equivalent-minutes outlined in the "Physical Activity(Table 1). Students did not consume fruits and vegetables more
Guidelines Advisory Committee Report" (Physical Activityfrequently in any of the remaining six semesters (Table 1).
Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2008). Discretionary sed- Sugared soda consumption showed a reverse pattern toward
entary activities, those not related to academics or work (e.g., lower risk. During their first semester, students consumed
time spent watching TV, playing video/computer games, andsugared soda at an average of 0.58 times a day, meaning that
surfing the web), were summed and aggregated to create aon average students did not drink a sugared soda everyday
sedentary activity variable. Physical activity and sedentary (Table 1). By the fall of their senior year, the average was
activity variable categories were recoded so that less than 0.37 (Table 1). Each semester, more than one third of stu-
30 minutes was recoded as 0.5 and from 30 to 60 minutes dents consumed fruits and vegetables at least one time every
was recoded as 0.75. The midpoint was used for the remain- day, whereas few (less than 12%) consumed at least one
ing categories so that 1 to 2 hours was recoded as 1.5m and sugared soda every day (Table 2).
so forth, with the final category of 10+ hours recoded as 10.
Means and standard deviations were calculated for each
Physical Activity
semester across the 14 days surveyed for the number of times
fruits, vegetables, and sugared soda were consumed, numberOn average, each semester, students engaged in less than
of hours students engaged in working out/playing sports, and 1 hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.
the number of hours students spent in sedentary activities. During their first semester, students engaged in this type of

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 438 Health Education & Behavior 40(4)

Table I. Frequency With Which College Students Con

Sedentary Behaviors by Semester.

Mean (SD)

Semester I Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6 Semester 7

Eating and Activity Variable (Fall 2007) (Spring 2008) (Fall 2008) (Spring 2009) (Fall 2009) (Spring 20 10) (Fall 2010
Number of times fruits and N = 704; N = 606; N - 622; N = 6 1 8; N = 593; N = 574; N = 57 1 ;
vegetables were consumed per day 2.37(1.78) 2.36(1.82) 2.11(1.70) 2.19 (1.77) 2.00(1.71) 2.02 (1
Number of times sugared soda was N = 704; N = 606; N = 622; N = 6 1 8; N = 593; N = 574; N = 57 1 ;
consumed per day 0.58 (0.69) 0.49 (0.64) 0.48(0.62) 0.41(0.54) 0.41(0.59) 0.37(0.56) 0.37 (0.54)
Number of hours engaged in sports/ N = 71 6; N = 624; N = 639; N = 640; N = 61 2; N = 596; N = 590;
working out per day 0.43 (0.50) 0.43 (0.48) 0.34 (0.46) 0.42 (0.52) 0.27 (0.4 1 ) 0.40 (0.54) 0.30 (0.44)
Number of hours engaged in N = 71 6; N = 605; N = 639; N = 640; N - 61 2; N = 596; N = 590;
sedentary activities per day 2.18 (1.47) 2.27(1.60) 1.59 (1.19) 1.61(1.26) 1.64 (1.20) 1.56(1.30) 1.58 (1.17)

Table 2. Percentage of Students Who Consumed Fruits and Vegetables, Sugared Soda, and Engaged in Physical Activity and Sedentary
Behaviors by Semester.

Percentage of Students

Semester I Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6 Semester 7

Eating and Activity Variable (Fall 2007) (Spring 2008) (Fall 2008) (Spring 2009) (Fall 2009) (Spring
Consumed fruits and N = 704; 4 1 .6 N = 606; 39.8 N = 622; 37.0 N = 6 1 8; 35.6 N = 593; 34.4 N - 574; 34.8 N = 57 1 ; 34.0
vegetables at least one
time on all the days
surveyed
Drank at least one sugared N = 704; 1 0.9 N = 605; 8.4 N = 622; 8.7 N = 6 1 8; 6.8 N = 592; 7.3 N = 574; 5.4 N = 570; 6.0
soda on all the days
surveyed
Participated in at least 30 N = 7 1 6; 8.9 N = 624; 8.3 N = 639; 4.7 N = 640; 8.7 N = 6 1 2; 4.9 N = 596; 6.4 N = 590; 3.6
minutes of sports/working
out on 1 0 or more days
Participated in at least 30 N = 71 6; 26.3 N = 624; 25.2 N = 639; 35.5 N = 640; 3 1.4 N = 6I2;45.6 N = 596; 33.2 N = 590; 39.8
minutes of sports/working
out on none of the days
surveyed
Engaged in sedentary N = 71 6; 9.6 N = 625; 1 0.7 N = 639; 16.6 N = 640; 18.3 N = 612; 16.8 N = 596; 22.3 N = 590; 1 9.7
activities for less than
2 hours all the days
surveyed

physical activity for 0.43 hours (about 26 minutes) a day. Changes in Dietary and Physical Activity
During the fall of their senior year, students engaged in mod- Behaviors Across the Seven Semesters
erate to vigorous activity on average 0.30 hours (about 18
minutes per day). "The Physical Activity Guidelines Figures 1 to 4 present trends in dietary and physical activity
Advisory Committee Report" indicated a number of health variables across the seven semesters. The estimates pre-
benefits resulting from at least 30 minutes of moderate to sented were generated from the hierarchical linear model
vigorous activity at least 5 days a week for adults. Fewer models and vary slightly from the cross-sectional point esti-
than 10% of students met that threshold in any semester mates because of differences in the N for each model. The
surveyed (Table 2). More than a quarter did not engage in 30 number of times students consumed fruit and vegetable each
minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on any day sur- day declined significantly by 14% across the seven semesters
veyed (Table 2). During most of the semesters, students with no gender differences (Figure 1). The total number of
engaged in about 2 hours of discretionary sedentary activity days students engaged in at least 30 minutes of moderate to
each day (Table 1). However, during the spring of their vigorous physical activity also declined; however, males
junior year and fall of their senior year, students spent close were more likely to exercise than females (Figure 2). The
to 1.5 hours in sedentary activities (Table 1). frequency of physical activity declined by 6% each semester.

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Small et al. 439

Figure 3.
Figure I discretion
. Average
and surveyed.
vegetables per
Note. N =Note. N = 732.
733. Slope is significant. Gender is significant.
Slope i

Figure 2. Total nu
30 Figure 4. Total number of days students
minutes of consumed at least mod
one
14 days sugared soda across the 14 days surveyed.
surveyed.
Note. N =Note. N = 733.
73 1 . Slope is significant. Gender is significant.
Slope i

When thisTwo positive trends emerged. The6% average number of re

hours students engaged 7,
Semester in discretionary sedentary
the activities i
physical
declined (Figure 3)activitie
as did the number of days students drank
than when
at least one sugared soda (Figure 4). Genderthey
differences were
observed for bothfrom
decrease behaviors. Across the seven semesters, 1.
days. females reduced their time in sedentary activities
Males enga by 35%
ity on 73%
from more
1.88 hours per day in their first semester to 1 .22 in their
declinedseventh semester.6% Males engaged in sedentary activities
each on
2.30 average about 30 minutesin
days (0.51 hours) more per day Sem than
Living females.
off Their sedentary activity declined by 28% from 2.39
camp
vegetable consu
to 1.73 hours per day. Similarly, the number of days students
Comparedconsumed at least one sugaredwith soda declined (Figure 4). w
off During their first semester females consumed cons
campus at least one
fewer sugared soda on average on 1.89 days (3.82 days for males)
occasions e
ous across the 2 weeks surveyed. By their senior year, students
physical acti
days. consumed sugared soda on 50% fewer days. redu
These Living location
ously described.
did not explain additional variance in these positive trends.

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 440 Health Education & Behavior 40(4)

Discussion interact with gender as in previous research (Kapiņos &

Yakusheva, 2011) and should be assessed in future studies.
Additionally,
The college years are an ideal time to provide structured sup-those conducting future research or developing
port for health behaviors. During this period, manyinterventions
studentsshould consider access, safety, comfort in the
environment,
live independently for the first time. They transition from and competing priorities for both men and
home environments in which routines have been structured
women. Although this study did not examine racial differ-
by parents and other organizations to a university environ- ences, future analyses should address these as they could
ment in which they must create new routines and daily habits. have important implications for intervention design.
Consistent with previous research, our study found that Our study had several limitations. First, our dietary items
critical health behaviors, including fruit and vegetable con- measured frequency with which foods were consumed, not
sumption (Greene et al., 2011; Huang et al., 2003; Racette actual serving sizes. Second, the study did not measure dis-
et al., 2008) and physical activity (Huang et al., 2003; tances to fitness locations or food outlets, which could help
Kolodinsky et al., 2007; Morrow et al., 2006), were not at explain the mechanisms for the off-campus housing effect.
optimal levels throughout students' college careers. On aver- Finally, although our sample was diverse, it represents a sin-
age, students consumed fruits and vegetables fewer than gle university population. Caution should be used when gen-
three times a day, suggesting that these foods are not con- eralizing results.
sumed at each meal. In addition, our findings support previ- Our study has several important implications. Students'
ous research indicating that college students' fruit and dietary quality and activity levels could increase with univer-
vegetable intake and physical activity deteriorate over time sity support provided on arrival as many behaviors are estab-
(Huang et al., 2003, Morrow et al., 2006). lished during this time frame (Cluskey & Grobe, 2009;
Living off campus compounds the declines in fruit and Mihalopoulos et al., 2008). Both structural interventions as
vegetable consumption and physical activity. Off-campus well as individual behavior change programs should be con-
students may encounter several barriers to eating fruits and sidered. For instance, the university in the current study
vegetables and exercising. College students report high requires first-year students to live on campus and purchase a
workloads and lack of time and transportation to facilities as meal plan. This creates an incentive for students to eat on
barriers to physical activity participation (Gyurcsik, Spink, campus in one of the dining commons. Offering fresh fruits
Bray, Chad, & Kwan, 2006; Silliman, Rodas-Fortier, & and vegetables as an "all you can eat" option while making
Neyman, 2004). These barriers existed for students in the soda "pay as you go" would be one way to create disincen-
current study as the large campus has only two fitness cen- tives for excess sugar consumption. An opt-out system could
ters. Several private gyms are located in the downtown area be used for fitness, with student activity fees paying for uni-
but are small and not close to much of off-campus housing. versity gym memberships and fitness classes. In addition to
Interpersonal issues may also play a role in fruit and vegeta- structural changes, universities could provide evidence-
ble consumption. Many students share apartments and based programs in addition to the 3 credits of health and
houses with roommates and must negotiate how food will be physical activity to help new students establish or improve
purchased, prepared, and shared. It is possible that low-cost, eating and physical activity behaviors. Such programs could
quick preparation foods are easier to "agree" on, prepare, be a requirement similar to first-year alcohol use programs
and keep fresh. and could help frame the importance of establishing good
Our findings are inconsistent with previous research on dietary and physical activity behaviors. Finally, making fit-
SSBs, which found that many college students drink at least ness opportunities social by providing a mechanism for stu-
one SSB daily. This discrepancy could be because our survey dents with similar interests to find each other early in their
asked only about sugar-sweetened soda and did not capture college experience could help students establish health-
the full range of SSBs. Because of this college's requirement promoting behaviors and sustain these behaviors over time.
that first-year students live on campus and purchase a dining Support for college students' health behaviors should not
plan, all have access to unlimited amounts of sugar-sweetenedend after the initial transition period. Barriers to healthy food
soda. In their later years, this is not the case. Finally, the selection and physical activity behaviors should be exam-
amount of time students engaged in discretionary sedentary ined within the context of the broader university community
activities declined as students progressed through college. and the living options for students. Many junior and senior
As students progress through college, their workloads and students' decision to move into off-campus housing seems to
extracurricular demands increase, leaving less time for dis- exacerbate poor dietary and physical activity behaviors.
cretionary sedentary activities. Creative partnerships between universities and local commu-
Gender differences were found for all variables except nities could improve the food environment for these students.
fruit and vegetable consumption. Men were more likely to For instance, fruit stands and farmers' markets could be
engage in both positive (physical activity) and negative (sed- established close to off-campus housing and promoted
entary activities and sugared soda consumption) health through student organizations. Also, transportation to local
behaviors. The distance between living location and fitness grocery stores could be provided in a way that accommodates
facilities was not measured in the current study but could students' schedules and their need to carry multiple shopping

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 Small et al. 44 1

bags (e.g.,
Gyurcsik, N. C., Spink, K. design
S., Bray, S. R., Chad, K., & Kwan, M.
gyms could offer
(2006). An ecologically based examination of barriers to physi-
vide lockers in
cal activity in students from grade seven through first-year uni- w
throughout the
versity. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 704-71 1. wee
rying a separate
Huang, T. K., Harris, K. J., Lee, R. E., Nazir, N., Born, W., & Kaur, gy
Daily behaviors
H. (2003). Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physi- an
students'cal activity health
in college students. Journal of American College st
Health, 52, 83-86.
Intervention durin
of achieving popu
Kapiņos, K. A., & Yakusheva, O. (201 1). Environmental influences
obesity. on young adult weight gain: Evidence from a natural experi-
ment. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48, 52-58.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests Kolodinsky, J., Harvey-Berino, J. R., Berlin, L., Johnson, R. K., &
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to Reyonlds, T. W. (2007). Knowledge of current dietary guide-
the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. lines and food choice by college students: Better eaters have
higher knowledge of dietary guidance. Journal of the American
Funding Dietetic Association, 107, 1409-1413.
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for Levitsky, D. A., Halbmaier, C. A., & Mrdjenovic, G. (2004). The
the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: freshman weight gain: A model for the study of the epidemic of
This research was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol obesity. International Journal of Obesity , 28, 1435-1442.
Abuse and Alcoholism (R01016016). Mihalopoulos, N. L., Auinger, P., & Klein, J. D. (2008). The freshman
15: Is it real? Journal of American College Health, 56, 531-533.
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