Dietary Fat Intake and Exercise Among Two- and Four-Year College Students: Differences in Behavior and Psychosocial Factors

Given the demographic differences among two-year colleges and four-year universities and the relatively limited access to health education and campus-based health resources, this study compares the frequency of limiting dietary fat intake and exercising among two-and four-year college students. A total of 2,265 undergraduate students aged 18-25 at a two-year college and a four-year university completed a 108-item online survey in October 2008. We found that two-year college students had less confidence, motivation, and intention to engage in healthy behaviors and reported fewer close friends who exercise regularly but more friends who eat high-fat foods. After controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, and parental education, two-year (versus four-year) college students less frequently limited dietary fat (F(2,2227) = 21.64, p<. 001) and less frequently exercised >= 20 minutes a day (F(5,2232) = 14.21, p<. 001). Thus, research should focus on developing interventions targeting the different psychosocial factors that influence nutrition and exercise among two-year college students.