Constance Georgiou

Among Young Adults, College Students and Graduates Practiced more Healthful Habits and made more Healthful Food Choices than did Nonstudents

OBJECTIVES Health-related characteristics and habits and food choices of young adults were compared for three groups: college students, college graduates, and nonstudents. DESIGN Subjects completed a mailed survey that included questions about demographics, attitudes, and behaviors and a food frequency questionnaire. Main outcome measures were health-related characteristics and habits and food choices. SUBJECTS Female (n = 758) and male (n = 580) 18- to 24-year-olds in nine states who were selected randomly by zip code in each state. The response rate averaged 43% for all states. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Analysis of variance of chi 2 tests were applied to health-related personal characteristic variables and the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was applied to food consumption variables for women and men separately. RESULTS According to self-reported heights and weights, female nonstudents were more often overweight than female students or graduates. Nonstudents of both genders reported smoking more often than students or graduates. College students and graduates ate more grain foods high in dietary fiber, more fruits and dark-green vegetables, and more lower-fat milk and meats than nonstudents. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATIONS Nonstudents were at greater health risk for some chronic illnesses, because of poorer health habits and food choices, than were college students and graduates. The behavior of nonstudents implies weaker response to messages promoting weight control, smoking cessation, and observance of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans than behavior exhibited by students or college graduates. Health promotion efforts could be enhanced by identifying demographic, educational, situational, and formative influences on positive health and dietary behaviors of young adults.

The Importance of Decisional Balance and Self-efficacy in Relation to Stages of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Intakes by Young Adults

Purpose. To examine the stages of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy constructs in relation to fruit and vegetable intakes by young adults 18–24 years old. Design. A cross-sectional project was conducted by 10 states in January–July 2000 to examine decisional balance and self-efficacy in relation to stage of change for increasing fruit and vegetable intake among young adults. Subjects. In all, 1545 usable surveys were returned (response rate = 55%). More non-respondents were men and precontemplators than respondents. Sixty-one percent of respondents were women, 90.3% were white, and 49.7% were current students. Setting. Alabama, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Measures. A telephone screening interview and a self-administered mail survey. Analysis. Analysis of variance, principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and χ2 test. Results. From precontemplation to maintenance, a significant linear trend was found toward higher food intake and self-efficacy for fruits and vegetables. The patterns of shifts in the pros and cons across the stages resembled those of other health behaviors. The decisional balance items were further classified into five component factors that varied significantly in importance across the stages. Four subject clusters were derived (unconcerned, reluctant, exploring, and action-oriented); distribution of the clusters agreed with that of the five stages. Conclusions. This study supports applicability of the Transtheoretical Model for assessing fruit and vegetable consumption by young adults. Derivation of the four clusters implies the importance of including decisional balance and self-efficacy as outcome measures besides dietary behavior for evaluating the effectiveness of nutrition interventions.

Self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and weight satisfaction discriminate among stages of change for fruit and vegetable intakes for young men and women

This study determined whether psychosocial, weight satisfaction, and dietary pattern variables discriminate between the Stages of Change for fruit and vegetable intakes among young men and women. A random sample of 18 to 24 year-olds, from 10 states returned 1438 surveys. Discriminant analyses for fruit intake conveyed that between precontemplation and contemplation/preparation, pro-scores and self-efficacy predicted the mens but not womens stages. Between contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance, self-efficacy and breakfast consumption best predicted stage for women, whereas men were discriminated only by self-efficacy. Discriminant analyses for vegetable intake were similar by gender. Precontemplation and contemplation/preparation were discriminated by pro-score and staging into contemplation/preparation versus action/maintenance was best predicted by self-efficacy and weight satisfaction. Young men and women are at different places in the Stages of Change process and few are meeting the vegetable guidelines. Dietary interventions can be most effective if specifically tailored to food group, stage, and gender.

The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dietitians Licensed in Oregon Regarding Functional Foods, Nutrient Supplements, and Herbs as Complementary Medicine

OBJECTIVE To examine the perceived knowledge and attitudes of dietitians licensed in Oregon (LDs) regarding the effectiveness and safety of functional foods, nutrient supplements, and herbs as complementary medicine as well as their personal use, recommendations for the use of others, and training needs. DESIGN A mailed survey was used to gather data. The questionnaire was developed and face-validated after a focus group discussion. SUBJECTS/SETTING A geographically stratified, random sample of 202 Oregon LDs was surveyed; usable data were collected from 162 LDs (80%). STATISTICAL ANALYSES Descriptive statistics and chi 2 tests were used to analyze data. The data were weighted to take account of the sampling method and yield population estimates. RESULTS LDs considered themselves to be knowledgeable of functional foods and nutrient supplements. More than 80% were confident of the effectiveness of functional foods and nutrient supplements for prevention of illness and treatment of chronic illness, and at least 89% were confident of their safety for these uses. Fewer than 75% considered herbs to be safe and only about 50% were confident of the effectiveness of herbs. Only 10% or fewer LDs considered themselves to be knowledgeable about herbs for prevention and treatment of illness. Interest in training about each of these less-traditional nutrition therapies was high. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS Oregon LDs consider themselves to be actively practicing in the area of complementary medicine and have a strong desire for further training. The dietetics profession can capitalize on this interest by taking the lead in training dietitians about the role of functional foods, nutrient supplements, and herbs in health.

What young adults say about factors affecting their food intake

Little research has been conducted examining the food choice behaviors of young adults. The few studies reported have been limited to college students and used survey questionnaire techniques. This study sought to describe a broader sample of young adults and to gather information about reasons for food choice behavior using a qualitative method. Fifty‐seven focus group interviews were conducted across seven states with 270 young adult participants. The interviews were focussed on discussions of food‐related behaviors. Across all states consistent responses were given regarding time constraints, financial barriers and health concerns impacting food choice. Varying responses between states seemed related to racial and ethnic differences among participants. These results suggest that the effectiveness of efforts to promote positive food behavior change among young adults may be improved by incorporating means to overcome common barriers.

Converting focus group data on food choices into a quantitative instrument

ROSALIEAMOS,3 NANCY BETTS,4 CONSTANCE GEORGIOU,S SHARON HOERR,6 RAO IVATURI,7 AND JANE VOICHICK 2 lDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Shantz 309, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721; 2Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706; 3Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Ed., 220C Mackay Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011; 4202 Ruth Leverton Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0806; SNutrition and Food Management, Milam Hall 108, Oregon State University, Corvalis, Oregon 97331-5103; 6Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1224; 7Department of Home Economics, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809

Comparison of Three Methods for Assessing Fruit, Vegetable, and Grain Stage of Change for Young Adults

This study compared methods for assessing Stage of Change for fruit, vegetable, and grain intakes for young adults. Self-determined staging (via a survey) was compared with telephone staging interviews (SIs) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). The SI was based on a dietary history and professionally guided staging of the participants. The survey included separate fruit, vegetable, and grain Stage of Change algorithms and FFQs. Participants accurately self-determined their Stage of Change relating to fruit and vegetable Food Guide Pyramid recommendations when they were meeting those guidelines, whereas the accuracy of self-determined staging for grains was low. Dietary feedback would assist young adults in self-staging accuracy.