Family Factors and Fat Consumption of College Students

Abstract

Although the family unit influences eating practices of college students, family issues have received little attention. Students (305) in an Introductory Nutrition Class recorded and calculated average daily fat intake and % energy from fat from 3-day Dietary Records. They responded to 36 questions describing food and family activities. A factor analysis of these attributes resulted in eight factors. Four factors pertained to personal characteristics: 1. Food and Weight Concerns; 2. Enjoy High Fat Foods; 3. Eager Eaters; and 4. Interest in Vegetables and New Foods; and four factors pertained to family milieu: 5. Encourages Food Activities; 6. Involvement in Food Activities; 7. Criticizes Food Decisions; and 8. Health and Social Networks. Only two personal factors were related to fat intake: 1. Food and Weight Concerns and 2. Enjoy High Fat Foods. Two-way ANOVA's indicated little possibility of sex-factor interactions. Cluster analysis based on personal factors indicated that students in Clusters 1 and 2 with low-fat intakes (35–49g, 19–21 % kcal) who rank high or moderate on Factor 1 (Food and Weight Concerns) and low on Factor 2 (Fat Food Enjoyment) are further distinguished by high scores on Factor 3 (Eating Eagerness); Factor 4 (Interest in Vegetables and New Foods); and Factor 7 (Family Criticism). Less critical families tended to have children with higher fat intakes. Factor 8 (Health and Social Networks) includes wellness indicators (health care, exercise) and social indicators (clubs, eating together). In summary, study findings suggest that 1.) Cohesive families as measured by Factors 5 and 6 (Encouraging and Involvement in Activities) do not have dietary information relevant to the fat constraints outlined in the Dietary Guidelines; 2.) Critical families are conveying weight loss messages to daughters for thinness; and 3.) Family Nutrition Networks appear to be mixing health messages with social messages. These outcomes provide dietitians with suggestions for nutrition education contents on beliefs and practices of college students and indicate the influence of the family unit on fat intake of college students.