Abstract
Background: Consumption of large portion sizes is contributing to overweight and obesity.College students are a vulnerable group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to use multi-theory model (MTM) to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption in college students. Methods: A total of 135 students at a large Southern US University completed a 35-item valid (face, content, and construct) and reliable (internally consistent) survey electronically in a cross-sectional design. The main outcome measures were intention to start eating small portion sizes and continuing to eat small portion sizes. Only those students who ate large portion sizes during the past 24 hours were included. Results: Step wise multiple regression showed that initiation of small portion size consumption was explained by participatory dialogue (advantages outweighing disadvantages), behavioral confidence, age, and gender (adjusted R2 = 0.37, P < 0.001). Males were less likely to initiate small portion size consumption than females (β = -0.185, 95% CI = -0.71– -0.11). Regarding sustenance, emotional transformation, changes in social environment, and race were the significant predictors (adjusted R2 = 0.20, P < 0.001). Whites were less likely to sustain small portion size change than other races (β = -0.269, 95% CI = -0.97 – -0.26). Conclusion: Based on this study’s findings, MTM appears to be a robust theoretical framework for predicting small portion size consumption behavior change. Interventions in this regard need to be designed.
Highlights
Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States with more than one third (34.9%) of the adult population classified as obese.[1]
Participatory dialogue that underscores the advantages outweighing the disadvantages and behavioral confidence have been found to be beneficial in other behaviors as well such as physical activity behavior in college students.[32]
While no studies have been conducted on portion size and age, it seems logical to propose as age increases, weight increases, and people would be more inclined to employ weight management strategies such as initiating portion size control
Summary
Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States with more than one third (34.9%) of the adult population classified as obese.[1]. The purpose of this study was to use multitheory model (MTM) to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption in college students. The main outcome measures were intention to start eating small portion sizes and continuing to eat small portion sizes. Those students who ate large portion sizes during the past 24 hours were included. Conclusion: Based on this study’s findings, MTM appears to be a robust theoretical framework for predicting small portion size consumption behavior change. Interventions in this regard need to be designed
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