Abstract
The objective was to determine if cooking skills and meal planning behaviors are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and lower body mass index (BMI) in first-year college students who are at risk for excessive weight gain. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from a multi-state research project aimed at preventing weight gain in first-year college students. Cooking type, frequency and confidence, self-instruction for healthful mealtime behavior intention, self-regulation of healthful mealtime behavior, and cup equivalents of fruits and vegetables (FV) were measured using validated surveys. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. First-year students (n = 1108) considered at risk for weight gain from eight universities completed baseline assessments within the first month of entering college. Multiple linear regression was used to determine associations among independent variables of cooking patterns, meal planning behaviors, and dependent variables of fruit and vegetable intake and BMI, after controlling for the influence of sex. Cooking more frequently, cooking with greater skills, and practicing meal planning behaviors are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and lower BMI in first-year college students. Interventions aimed at improving health in college students may be enhanced by incorporating cooking and meal planning components.
Highlights
Greater than one-third of the adults in the U.S have a body mass index equal to or greater than 30, classifying them as obese [1]
The purpose of this study is to determine if cooking skills and meal planning behaviors are associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and lower body mass index (BMI) in college students who are at risk for excessive weight gain
This study identified behaviors that were likely associated with fruit and vegetable intake and BMI in first-year college students
Summary
Greater than one-third of the adults in the U.S have a body mass index equal to or greater than 30, classifying them as obese [1]. Obesity is associated with chronic diseases as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers [2,3]. Obesity in young adults has tracked into adulthood [1]. Gordon-Larsen et al [4], have reported that a high proportion of obese adults were previously obese as adolescents (ages 13–20), and only a small proportion of adolescents moved out of the obese category (to overweight or normal weight) as they became adults [4]. Unhealthy behaviors like poor dietary intake, decreased physical activity, inconsistent sleep patterns, and increased sedentary time that have been associated with the development of obesity are often learned at a young age and tend to continue through adolescence into adulthood [5]. Promotion of healthful behaviors that support the prevention of excessive weight gain in young adults is important for obesity prevention and, the chronic diseases associated with obesity
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