College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research
Summary Research indicates that most college students are not meeting dietary and physical activity guidelines, and the average student gains an estimated 1.6–3.0 kg during 4 years of study. College administrations are well‐positioned to influence student weight‐related health behaviours by ensuring...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Obesity Science & Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.445 |
| _version_ | 1797795322914668544 |
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| author | Caitlin P. Bailey Shanti Sharma Christina D. Economos Erin Hennessy Caitlin Simon Daniel P. Hatfield |
| author_facet | Caitlin P. Bailey Shanti Sharma Christina D. Economos Erin Hennessy Caitlin Simon Daniel P. Hatfield |
| author_sort | Caitlin P. Bailey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary Research indicates that most college students are not meeting dietary and physical activity guidelines, and the average student gains an estimated 1.6–3.0 kg during 4 years of study. College administrations are well‐positioned to influence student weight‐related health behaviours by ensuring that campus environments/policies promote health. However, to date, campus health interventions have largely addressed individual and interpersonal factors rather than environmental/policy‐level changes. Using an ecological perspective, this narrative review synthesizes the literature on campus environmental/policy‐level factors (e.g., food availability, physical activity requirements) associated with student diet, physical activity and weight, as well as campus interventions to address these factors. Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched between December 2018 and November 2019. Results indicate that campus food environments may contribute to overconsumption and weight gain, and the number of campuses requiring students to participate in physical activity courses is in decline. Eight examples of environmental/policy‐level campus interventions are presented: nutrition labels in dining halls, campus‐wide healthy choice marketing campaigns, restricted payment methods for à la cart dining, trayless dining, health‐themed residence halls, peer health education programmes, active classroom spaces and physical activity course requirements. Implications for research and health promotion programmes/policies in the field of college health are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:16:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b602812f1ce4821a4f2233d342eb0b2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2238 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:16:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Obesity Science & Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b602812f1ce4821a4f2233d342eb0b22023-06-26T04:06:50ZengWileyObesity Science & Practice2055-22382020-12-016669470710.1002/osp4.445College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention researchCaitlin P. Bailey0Shanti Sharma1Christina D. Economos2Erin Hennessy3Caitlin Simon4Daniel P. Hatfield5ChildObesity180, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USAChildObesity180, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USAChildObesity180, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USAChildObesity180, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USAPartnership for a Healthier America Washington District of Columbia USAChildObesity180, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Boston Massachusetts USASummary Research indicates that most college students are not meeting dietary and physical activity guidelines, and the average student gains an estimated 1.6–3.0 kg during 4 years of study. College administrations are well‐positioned to influence student weight‐related health behaviours by ensuring that campus environments/policies promote health. However, to date, campus health interventions have largely addressed individual and interpersonal factors rather than environmental/policy‐level changes. Using an ecological perspective, this narrative review synthesizes the literature on campus environmental/policy‐level factors (e.g., food availability, physical activity requirements) associated with student diet, physical activity and weight, as well as campus interventions to address these factors. Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched between December 2018 and November 2019. Results indicate that campus food environments may contribute to overconsumption and weight gain, and the number of campuses requiring students to participate in physical activity courses is in decline. Eight examples of environmental/policy‐level campus interventions are presented: nutrition labels in dining halls, campus‐wide healthy choice marketing campaigns, restricted payment methods for à la cart dining, trayless dining, health‐themed residence halls, peer health education programmes, active classroom spaces and physical activity course requirements. Implications for research and health promotion programmes/policies in the field of college health are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.445collegenutritionphysical activityweight |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin P. Bailey Shanti Sharma Christina D. Economos Erin Hennessy Caitlin Simon Daniel P. Hatfield College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research Obesity Science & Practice college nutrition physical activity weight |
| title | College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research |
| title_full | College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research |
| title_fullStr | College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research |
| title_full_unstemmed | College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research |
| title_short | College campuses' influence on student weight and related behaviours: A review of observational and intervention research |
| title_sort | college campuses influence on student weight and related behaviours a review of observational and intervention research |
| topic | college nutrition physical activity weight |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.445 |
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