![]() This study is the first stage of a larger research project called “CONSUMEHealth. The aim of this study is to explore the barriers and enablers of healthy eating behaviors among US college students, using focus groups that foster open discussion between a small number of participants. Recently, the so-called Ecological Model has been considered as an acceptable framework to link individual and social behaviors with environmental determinants, to reduce serious and prevalent health problems. Studies exploring eating behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults have been done in recent years however, theories to explain such behaviors are still moving from the nascent to the mature stage. In the last decades, there has been growing interest in the development and implementation of health promotion interventions in the workplace. In order to design and support healthy nutrition campaigns (e.g., less meat options) across campuses, it is critical to improve knowledge of dietary behaviors in the university-age population. Some studies have even shown that college students tend to gain more weight than those who do not attend university. According to the literature, university is a critical period for young adults regarding food choices and their relationship with weight gain. Substantial life-changing transitions happened when young adults finish high school to start college or a working life. Along with unhealthy eating behaviors, a new series of weight-related behavioral patterns begins throughout this period, such as excessive alcohol consumption and a low level of physical activity. It has been shown that after the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, when independency increases, young adults are continuously challenged to make healthful food choices. On the other hand, the consumption of added sugars, processed meats, and trans fats is higher than the recommended daily intake. For example, most of the United States (US) population does not consume the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Īs reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the adult disease burden is due to health risk behaviors that start during adolescence (e.g., unhealthy eating practices). Physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are among the main behaviors that potentially have adverse effects on weight status in young adulthood, and consequently, the future health of adults. ![]() According to a scoping review of risk behavior interventions in young men, Ashton, Hutchesson, Rollo, Morgan & Collins identified obesity as a serious health risk with an incidence rate of obesity reaching 29% of the population aged 20–39 years old. Overweightness and obesity rates have dramatically increased over the past few decades and they represent a health epidemic in the United States, as well as in many other areas of the world. The study highlighted the importance of consulting college students when developing healthy eating interventions across the campus (e.g., labeling healthy food options and information campaigns) and considering individual-level factors and socio-ecological aspects in the analysis. ![]() Parental food behavior and friends’ social pressure were considered to have both positive and negative influences on individual eating habits. Conversely, enablers to healthy behavior were improved food knowledge and education, meal planning, involvement in food preparation, and being physically active. Common barriers to healthy eating were time constraints, unhealthy snacking, convenience high-calorie food, stress, high prices of healthy food, and easy access to junk food. A qualitative software, CAQDAS Nvivo11 Plus, was used to create codes that categorized the group discussions while using an Ecological Model. A group of Cornell University students ( n = 35) participated in six semi-structured focus groups. The purpose of this explorative study was to use a qualitative research design to analyze the factors (barriers and enablers) that US college students perceived as influencing healthy eating behaviors. Unhealthy dietary habits are among the factors that can have adverse effects on weight status in young adulthood. Overweightness and obesity rates have increased dramatically over the past few decades and they represent a health epidemic in the United States (US). ![]()
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