Abstract
Given the importance of young adulthood in establishing lifelong dietary habits, it is imperative to better understand potential underlying drivers of dietary behavior in the university-age population. Dietary patterns have been associated with disease risk, but behavioral predictors of dietary pattern adherence are poorly understood, especially among emerging adults. This study aims to evaluate health-related behaviors associated with dietary pattern scores among freshmen participating in the Tufts Longitudinal Health Study (TLHS; n = 630). We previously derived dietary patterns using principal components analysis and orthogonal rotation from dietary intake data. Health-related behavior data were collected via survey. All data were collected during the Spring semesters of 1998–2007. Unadjusted linear models were used to determine associations between dietary pattern scores and health-related behaviors. Significant correlates were retained in multivariable regression models, which were adjusted for demographic characteristics. We found that never eating meals away from home was associated with higher adherence to the Prudent and lower adherence to the Western and Alcohol patterns. Intention to lose weight was negatively associated with the Western pattern, while intention to gain weight was positively associated with all dietary patterns. These findings suggest that intervention efforts aimed at improving eating out behaviors and engaging in healthy weight management strategies may promote healthier dietary patterns among university students.
Highlights
Facing more than 200 food-related decisions daily [1], dietary choices are among the most frequent of human behaviors [2]
Findings from this study suggest that underlying lifestyle and behavioral factors are associated with adherence to dietary patterns among four-year university students
Given that we previously demonstrated these dietary patterns are correlated with measures of disease risk in this population [24], it is important to consider both eating out behavior and weight loss intention in designing interventions to improve overall dietary quality among university students
Summary
Facing more than 200 food-related decisions daily [1], dietary choices are among the most frequent of human behaviors [2]. Complex, and interacting factors at the individual, interpersonal, environmental, and policy levels [3] influence an individual’s pattern of eating over time [2,4,5,6]. In turn, influence chronic disease risk and quality of life [7,8,9]. Determining which factors influence dietary patterns across the lifespan could inform interventions to improve diet quality and associated health outcomes. Food choice is subject to changes over the life span [6]. Is person-, time-, and context-specific [10,11]. The transition between adolescence and adulthood, characterized by increasing independence, autonomy, and responsibility, is often the first time period during which young adults make their own Nutrients 2018, 10, 716; doi:10.3390/nu10060716 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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