College Students’ Healthy Nutrition Research Proposal

Literature review

People’s choices for foods and other nutrition-related practices are influenced by a variety of determinants with tremendous consequences for nutrition. Understanding consumer behaviour helps nutrition specialists to deliver effective nutrition intervention programs. Existing literature suggests that many students purchase foods outside school’s meal programs, mostly snacks and sweetened beverages with high calories and low nutritional value (Hales, 2010; Koplan et al., 2005). Economic determinants influence food choices among students, especially the price of food and convenience (Hales, 2010; Li, 2011). A research study by Cullen et al. (2000) demonstrated that many children eat out and are allowed to eat what they want. Among these children, parental influence on the menu choice occurs only when cost is an issue (Cullen et al., 2000). In a related study by Pokin et al. (2005), it was reported that food expenditure patterns for high priced products significantly reduces the number of fruits servings, vegetables and dairy products consumed by students suggesting that costly foods influence student’s choices.

Student’s choice of healthy foods for consumption appears to be determined by nutrition and health influences. In a study to investigate the effect that nutritional education has on a consumer’s diet, Shakkour (2008) demonstrated that nutritional education could help people improve the quality of eating behaviors. This suggests that wellness policies in schools and other school-based activities aimed at promoting positive dietary behavior could help solve the problem of overweight students and reduce the risk of obesity. However, dietary choices and physical activity behaviors among adolescents and children are influenced by familial factors, societal factors, the media and other settings (Gay, 2006; Martin and Oakley, 2008). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), schools provide supportive environment for students to learn and practice healthy behaviors such as the choice of healthy foods and physical activity.

Current literature shows that healthy diets are unaffordable and cost is a major barrier for students in accessing healthy foods (Rivas and Flores, 2011). In a systematic demand analysis for unhealthy and healthy food, Zheng and Zhen (2010) reported little evidence that substitution between healthy and unhealthy food could be induced by relative price changes. Such findings are consistent with arguments by Rivas and Flores (2011) that increasing taxes on unhealthy food items could raise their relative prices and result to positive change in eating behaviors. Rivas and Flores (2011) asserted that cash incentives may be the most effective approach in reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods. Further, Champlin and Henderson (1998) argued that the eating behaviors of teens reflect their living environment and health status, implying that cost impacts on the choice of healthy foods.

Research questions

This study will examine health and nutrition behaviors of college students in order to gain deeper understanding of the factors that influence food consumption particularly, among the university students. The main research question would be; “How does knowledge about nutrition and health influence university students to choose foods for consumption?”

Hypotheses

This study will test the following hypothesis

• Hy.1- costly foods influence student’s choices.
• Hy.2- nutrition and health influence students to choose healthy foods for consumption.
• Hy.3- cost impact on choice of unhealthy foods.

Research Methods and techniques

Study Design

Quantitative research method will be applied using cross-sectional study research design that will gather data within a single period. The data will be used to examine whether nutrition and health knowledge influences the food intake behavior of the university students (Miere et al., 2007). The nutritional model will be applied to guide the collection of data and nutritional behaviors of the participants (Sakamaki et al., 2005).

Since cross-sectional study design is less costly and quick, it is feasible for this study (Kolodinsky et al., 2007). In addition, the information gathered will be analyzed quickly and easily to give a snapshot characteristic of the population (Panagiotakos et al., 2007). Comparing the students’ dietary behavior can be easily done at once using this study method (Irazusta et al., 2006). Nevertheless, this study design only provides a snapshot of the population being studied. Therefore, only some generalizations will be drawn from the data gathered (Young & Fors, 2001).

Participants and sampling

In this study, all universities students are deemed viable when carrying out the research (Spyckerelle et al., 1992). From the total number of university students, just thirty students will be selected via appropriate sampling method that will give a true population representation and a valid data (Lee & Loke, 2005). For the main study, the proposed sample size will comprise 15 female participants between the age of 18 and 25, and 15 gentlemen between the aged between 19 and 27 (Wardle et al., 2004).

Due to time and cost constraints, a selective sampling will be used to choose the thirty students (Schweyer & Le-Corre, 1994). Although random sampling is quick and convenient method for selecting the participants, the researcher is free to select the participants who are accessible and representative of the population (Mikolajczyk et al., 2009). The disadvantage of selective sampling is that it may be biased in case the sample does not represent the whole population (Osler & Heitmann, 1996).

Data collection

Data for this study will be acquired from primary sources (Roddam et al., 2005). The relevant primary data will be gathered via questionnaires (Hagman et al., 1986). A comprehensive exploration instrument is assumed to have been developed and satisfactorily tested prior to embarking on this actual research study (Von-Bothmer & Fridlund, 2005). Therefore, thirty questionnaires that examine the students’ nutritional behavior will be used (appendix 1).

The questionnaire will take the students roughly between 15 and 21 minutes to complete. The advantage of the questionnaires is that the potential data will be gathered within the shortest time possible (Spyckerelle et al., 1992). Conversely, the disadvantage is that the students would not be willing to provide the information or may be giving untrue information particularly, in situations they feel that they would not benefit from the study (Kim et al., 2003).

Ethical Consideration

Before embarking on the research study, all the application requirements that the research committee needs will be completed (Brunt et al., 2008). In addition, all the participants will be provided with information concerning their freedom of participation based on the stated standards (Anderson et al., 1994). A letter of introduction from the university specifying and explaining the study and the standard methods will also be provided. The letter will provide an assurance of secrecy to their information (Baric et al., 2003). Moreover, information sheet guiding and describing the study will be provided (Bull, 1992). The participants will be made aware that they can withdraw their involvement without any consequence (Brevard & Ricketts, 1996). Lastly, the research participants will be provided with letters of consent.

An approval for participation in this research study will be sought from the responsible authorities (El-Ansari et al., 2007). However, measures will be put in place during and after the research study has been conducted to help protect the respondents and any other subjects from harms (Bas et al., 2005). Finally, the information acquired from the study participants will be securely stored and protected whereas study finding reports will not divulge the participants’ identification (Kafatos et al., 2000).

References

Anderson, AS, Macintyre, S & West, P 1994, “Dietary patterns among adolescents in the west of Scotland”, Br J Nutr, vol.71 no.1, pp.111-122.

Baric, CI, Satalic, Z, & Lukesic, Z 2003, “Nutritive value of meals, dietary habits and nutritive status in Croatian university students according to gender”, International Journal of Food Science Nutrition, vol. 54 no. 6, pp.473-484.

Bas, M, Altan, T, Dincer, D, Aran, E, Kaya, HG & Yuksek, O 2005, “Determination of dietary habits as a risk factor of cardiovascular heart disease in Turkish adolescents”, Eur J Nutr, vol.44 no.3, pp.174-182.

Brevard, PB & Ricketts, CD 1996, “Residence of college students affects dietary intake, physical activity, and serum lipid levels”, J Am Diet Assoc, vol.96 no.4, pp.35-38.

Brunt, A, Rhee, Y & Zhong, L 2008, “Differences in dietary patterns among college students according to body mass index”, J Am Coll Health, vol.56 no.9, pp.629-634.

Bull, NL 1992, “Dietary habits, food consumption, and nutrient intake during adolescence”, J Adolesc Health, vol.13 no.1, pp.384-388.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2011, School health guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity, Web.

Champlin, S & Henderson, A 1998, Promoting teen health; linking schools, health organizations, and community, SAGE, New York.

Cullen, W, Baranowski, T, Rittenberry, L & Olveira, N 2000, “Social-environmental influences on children’s diets: results from focus group with African-Euro-and Mexican-American children and their parents”, Health Education Research, vol. 15 no.5, pp.581-590.

El-Ansari, W, Maxwell, AE, Mikolajczyk, RT, Stock, C, Naydenova, V & Kramer, A 2007, “Promoting public health: benefits and challenges of a European wide research consortium on student health”, Cent Eur J Public Health, vol.15 no.6, p.58-65.

Gay, K 2006, Am I fat? The obesity issue for teens: Enslow Publishers, Inc., New York.

Hagman, U, Bruce, A, Persson, LA, Samuelson, G & Sjolin, S 1986, “Food habits and nutrient intake in childhood in relation to health and socio-economic conditions. Irazusta, A, Gil, S, Ruiz, F, Gondra, J, Jauregi, A, Irazusta, J & Gil, J 2006, “Exercise, physical fitness, and dietary habits of first-year female nursing students”, Biol Res Nurs, vol.7 no.2, pp.175-186.

Hales, D 2010, An invitation to health: choosing to change, Cengage Learning, New York.

Kafatos, A, Verhagen, H, Moschandreas, J, Apostolaki, I & Van-Westerop, JJ 2000, “Mediterranean diet of Crete: foods and nutrient content”, J Am Diet Assoc, vol.100 no.8, pp.1487-1493.

Kim, S, Haines, PS, Siega-Riz, AM & Popkin, BM 2003, “The diet quality index-international (DQI-I) provides an effective tool for cross-national comparison of diet quality as illustrated by China and the United States”, J Nutr, vol.133 no.1, pp.3476-3484.

Kolodinsky, J, Harvey-Berino, JR, Berlin, L, Johnson, RK & Reynolds TW 2007, “Knowledge of current dietary guidelines and food choice by college students: better eaters have higher knowledge of dietary guidance”, Journal of American Diet Association, vol.107 no.12, pp.1409-1413.

Koplan, J, Liverman, C & Kraak, V 2005, Preventing childhood obesity: Health in the balance, National Academies Press, New York.

Lee, RL & Loke, AJ 2005, “Health-promoting behaviors and psychosocial well-being of university students in Hong Kong”, Public Health Nurs, vol.22 no.1, pp.209-220.

Li, L 2011, “Factors influencing student’s food choices when shopping for food”, International Journal of Business and Management, vol. 6 no.1, pp. 165-186.

Martin, J & Oakley, C 2008, Managing child nutrition programs: leadership for excellence, Jones & Bartlett Learning, New York.

Miere, D, Filip, L, Indrei, LL, Soriano, JM, Molto, JC & Manes, J 2007, “Nutritional assessment of the students from two European university centers”, Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi, vol.111 no.6, pp.270-275.

Mikolajczyk, RT, El-Ansari, W & Maxwell, AE 2009, “Food consumption frequency and perceived stress and depressive symptoms among students in three European countries”, Nutr J, vol.8 no.3, pp. 27-32.

Osler, M & Heitmann, BL 1996, “The validity of a short food frequency questionnaire and its ability to measure changes in food intake: a longitudinal study”, Int J Epidemiol, vol.25 no.4, pp.1023-1029.

Panagiotakos, D, Sitara, M, Pitsavos, C & Stefanadis, C 2007, “Estimating the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease and its economic consequences, by the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet: the ATTICA study”, J Med Food, vol.10 no.4, pp.239-243.

Pokin, B, Duffey, K & Gordon-Larsen, P 2005, “Environmental influences on food choice, physical activity and energy balance”, Physiology & Behavior, vol. 86 no. 12, pp.603-613.

Rivas, J. & Flores, M 2011, Cash incentives and unhealthy food consumption, Web.

Sakamaki, R, Amamoto, R, Mochida, Y, Shinfuku, N & Toyama, K 2005, “A comparative study of food habits and body shape perception of university students in Japan and Korea”, Nutr J, vol.4 no.1, pp.31.

Schweyer, FX & Le Corre, N 1994, “L’alimentation au quotidien chez les e’tudiants”, Pre’venir, vol.26 no.6, pp.87-92.

Shakkour, E 2008, The relationship between nutritional knowledge and application, Web.

Spyckerelle, Y, Herbeth, B & Deschamps, JP 1992, “Dietary behaviour of an adolescent French male population”, J Hum Nutr Diet, vol.5 no.3, pp.161-168.

Von Bothmer, MI & Fridlund, B 2005, “Gender differences in health habits and in motivation for a healthy lifestyle among Swedish university students”, Nurs Health Sci, vol.7 no.1, pp.107-118.

Wardle, J, Haase, AM, Steptoe, A, Nillapun, M, Jonwutiwes, K & Bellisle, F 2004, “Gender differences in food choice: the contribution of health beliefs and dieting”, Ann Behav Med, vol.27 no.2, pp.107-116.

Young, EM & Fors, SW 2001, “Factors related to the eating habits of students in grades 9–12”, J Sch Health, vol.71 no.2, pp.483-488.

Zheng, X & Zhen, C 2010, Healthy food, unhealthy food and obesity, Web.

Appendix

Survey Questionnaire

Introduction: This survey questionnaire will help to evaluate the university student’s choice of food they choose to buy and/or eat and the factors that influences it. This questionnaire has two sections the Personal Information and Survey Proper. Please spare time in answering the survey form. Your personal data’s and answers will be kept as confidential. The information that gathered will be used for academic purposes.

1. Personal Information (Please put your answers on the space provided)

1. Name: _______________________ (Optional)
2. Age: ___
3. Gender: ___
4. Education Level : ___________
5. Marital Status : ___________
6. Citizenship : ___________
7. Weight: ___________
8. Height: ___________
9. Weekly Allowance : ________

Please check the appropriate box

10. Buying food at your university canteen/ cafeteria?

• Yes
• No

11. Are you bringing your own food/ snacks at your school?

• Yes
• No

Write your answers

12. How many times in a week do you visit your school campus canteen/ cafeteria? __________
13. When was the last time you visited school campus canteen/ cafeteria? _______
14. What is your favorite food and drink that you usually buy at the school campus canteen/ cafeteria? __________________________________

(Note: Before proceeding to 2^nd part of this survey form Please do complete 1st part questions).

Survey Proper (Please check the appropriate box)

1. Check the box with your appropriate answers

2. Write your answers on the space provided

1. Which do you prefer buying food at the school premises or buying outside the school, and then write the food you usually buy:___________________________________________________________________
2. Write your insights about nutritious and healthy foods and ways on having it without costing you too much:________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Check the box of your appropriate answer;

3. Do you suffer some illness in eating unhealthy foods?

• Yes
• No

4. Are you aware that the food you consume will affect your health?

• Yes
• No