THE FR

ESHMAN 15:

T H E PR O B L E M A

T LA R G E

Stephanie S

ue Minimo

Wri 10 - V

an Bebber

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY(1)Deshpande, Sameer, Basil, Michael D., and Basil, Debra Z.. "Factors influencing

healthy eating habits among college students: An application of the health belief model." Health Marketing Quarterly 26.2 (2009): 145-164.

This study examined the phenomenon of food selection in college students. The “Heath Belief Model” was created and applied to predict the likelihood of healthy practices among university students. Students were asked to take a 20 minute survey where 194 participants had their height, weight, and body composition measured on campus, and answered questions about the food choices they make. This source helps further my topic on what influences a college student’s diet: convenience, taste, and price. This study was combined with another to further explain and analyze the “college diet.”

Gerson, Amanda, Goto, Keiko, Wolff, Cindy, and Giovanni, Maria. "Food, Health and Values: The Effects of Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Sustainable Food Practices on Overall Diet Quality among College Students." (2013).

Four professors of Nutrition came together to conduct a study on the general attitude of college students towards eating healthier. This helped further my research in the way that it further explained the dietary choices a student makes, and provided many statistics and facts about dining hall foods and the other factors that affect a student’s ability to make healthier choices. This study examined a relationship between overall diet quality and attitudes and behaviors regarding sustainable food practices among 97 college students by conducting a survey that tracked their diets and attitudes toward foods and with farmers’ market attendance. The survey is somewhat biased in the sense that it primarily took farmers market attendance as a primary resource for “healthier” options to students. Nonetheless, this source helped me conclude my thoughts on the eating habits of college students.

Graham, Dan J., and Laska, Melissa N.. "Nutrition label use partially mediates the relationship between attitude toward healthy eating and overall dietary quality among college students." Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 112.3 (2012): 414-418.

This study examined the dietary attitudes, behaviors, and nutrition label use among many college students. They hypothesized that students read nutrition labels would be more likely to engage in healthy diet practices and would be more educated about nutrition than those who read labels less frequently. This study was done among 1,201 college students and participants had their height, weight, and body composition measured on campus, along with completing a survey. This source especially helped in explaining the importance of accessible nutrition facts and labels, as it may be a deciding factor on what students choose to eat.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY(2)Racette, Susan B., Deusinger, Susan S., Streubel, Michael J., Highstein, Gabrielle R., and

Deusinger, Robert H.. "Weight changes, exercise, and dietary patterns during freshman and sophomore years of college." Journal of American college health 53.6 (2005): 245-251.

The main goal of this study was to assess the weight, exercise, and dietary patterns of 764 college students during freshman and sophomore years. Students had their weight and height measured and were asked to complete a survey about their exercise and dietary patterns. The reason for this study is to link this to obesity problems in adulthood, but its studies mainly focused on the choices made in their early college years, which provides a solid support to my claim. One problem for this particular study is that a later part of this study required the 764 students to come back and complete another survey, of which only 290 students returned. Even so, this study backed and provided many concrete details of my report.

Li, Kin-Kit. "Study: College Students Not Eating Enough Fruits & Veggies." Oregon State University . N.p., 17 Aug 2011. Web. <http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/aug/study-college-students-not-eating-enough-fruits-and-veggies>.

This collegiate newspaper article assessed a study that was previously done on fruit and vegetable intake of college students. For this article, the journalist brought in an author from that same study and asked them what they thought about the health of college students. This information could be biased in the sense that the interviewee was someone that was involved in writing the article, so he could speak only to further put his studies into better light. Either way, this article interviewed an actual college nutritionist, so his input was highly beneficial to my paper.

Lloyd-Richardson, Elizabeth E., Bailey, Steffani, Fava, Joseph L., and Wing, Rena."A prospective study of weight gain during the college freshman and sophomore years." Preventive medicine 48.3 (2009): 256-261. In this study, students voluntarily self-reported weight and eating habits to researchers

continuously over 2 years (their freshman and sophomore years). The main goal of this study was to strictly study the true effects of the “Freshman 15”. This study was extremely helpful to my study in that it focused in on exactly what I needed: prominent weight gain in early college years. The only problem with this source was that it was already heavily based off of another study that was done a year prior to this study.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY(3)Singer, Natasha. "15 Pounds: Part of Freshman Meal Plan?." New York Times 31 Aug

2006, n. pag. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/fashion/31diet.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.

This article from the New York Times stated that the Freshman 15 was a myth, and provided many examples as to why it wasn’t true. This article primarily focused on treating the Freshman 15 as a myth, which took away from its usefulness, but helped me in finding ways to battle the Freshman 15. Another bias of this article was that it focused on interviewing students who were already eating healthy, as opposed to interviewing, or at least including interviews of students that make poor dietary choices.

Skinner, Holly. "The Freshman 15: Weight Change in Relation to Body Image and Body Measurements." Diss. Aurburn Univeristy, (2008).

This Dissertation mainly focused on body image and watching body measurements in college, but proved to be useful in highlighting why the weight change in Freshman and Sophomore years need to be addressed. This study shone light on the negative effects that also influence weight change in college students, such as stress, adapting to a new place, and a lack of responsibility. It achieved its goal of highlighting the problem through carefully dissecting the problems commonly found in college students, and linked those most of those problems to weight gain.

WHAT IS THE FRESHMAN 15?• In theory, the Freshman 15 is the supposed weight gain that is attributed to first-year students in their first two years attending a university.

o Actually, the average weight gain among college students is around 7 pounds.

• Students are free to choose what they eat

• Students are free to eat whenever they feel

• No one controls the portioning of their meals

• Many students don’t receive a well balanced diet

• College freshman usually are on a constrained budget

• Many students are faced with the dilemma of constantly eating the same food served at the DC everyday

REASONS FOR GAINING THE FRESHMAN 15?

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO BEAT THE FRESHMAN 15

FOOD ON CAMPUS• Food on campus can be expensive• On top of that, food offered on campus can be very

unhealthy• The availability of healthy food on campus will reduce

the perceptions of “barriers” from eating on a healthy diet (Deshpande, Basil, Basil 2009).

• Food made on campus should be clearer on how it is made, and what it’s made with so that students will be able to make healthier choices

WHAT CAN COLLEGES DO?• Colleges should add nutritional facts and labels to the food

they serve in the dining center so that students will be more aware of what they are eating

• In turn, this will inspire some students to be more conscientious of their choices in the DC.

• Studies have shown that individuals who frequently read nutrition labels tend to value eating healthier and engage in healthier dietary practices that those who did not (Graham and Laska 2012).

LACK OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE/DIET• Collegiate neglect of a structured diet or exercise plan• Lack of educational outlets to inform and educate students

on healthier lifestyle and diet choices• Studies have shown a decline in nutritional knowledge,

especially across the collegiate level (Deshpande, Basil, and Basil 2009).

• Lack of facilities for students to properly cook their own meals, that would originally give them authority over what goes into their meals.

WHAT CAN COLLEGES DO?• To promote healthier, more active lifestyles, colleges

can instate events like the new Undie Run, Color run, and other themed marathons that students can participate in.

• Instate a program that works alongside the Dining Center to promote better dieting choices

• Give students better facilities to be able to prepare own meals rather than renting out a single kitchen

• Propose a kitchen on each floor for easier access to on-campus students

OTHER OPTIONS TO ENCOURAGE BETTER EATING HABITS

• Studies have attributed the poor diet habits of college students to “buffet-type cafeterias and large portion sizes” (Gershon, Soto, Wolff, and Giovanni 2013).

• Portioned meal plans will help encourage better eating habits and will help students exercise better choices in the DC

• The only relatively healthy part of the DC is the salad bar

• Integrate an optional meal plan that students can choose to limit calorie or fat intake

• Make optional meals that are predesigned, taking away the temptation from students who will indulge easily

• Have a low-calorie/diet section of the Dining Center be built as an option.

PORTIONED MEAL PLANS