The study will examine the Nutrition and Diets for College Students in the United States. Increased cases of obesity and overweight have been reported and observed mainly among the adolescents and young adults. The most recent data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System confirmed that a greater percentage of the 18-24 year olds are obese and overweight. The life of college students is characterized by tremendous changes; the now young adults are no longer under the strict care of their parents or guardians and they have to make responsible choices that affect their day- to-day lives and nutrition is a core component. Studies report that most college students engage in risky health behaviors, which include unhealthy eating habits that get worse as the college years progress. It is essential for college students to develop healthy eating habits that will translate to better health and attainment of optimal body function.
The central purpose of this study, is to critically examine the diets and the nutrition that college students have. Reviewed studies have demonstrated that there is a need to examine the nutritional requirements of college students, their eating habits, knowledge on diet and nutrition, healthy behaviors, management of their weight as well education on diet and nutrition. Based on the discussion the following hypotheses were proposed.
H1: The importance of eating healthy will be positively influenced by individual social demographic, food-environ perceptions and the objective food environment.
H2: Moderators also positively influence the dietary outcome in students.
H3: The environment influences the dietary and nutritional outcome in students.
The study variables will include Independent and Dependent variables. The Independent variables will be Diet, nutrition, states, and the cities. Independent variables can be discussed as controlled inputs while the dependent variables represent the outcome resulting from the inputs. In the study the dependent variables include; College student, age and sex. The individual level covariates include the individual socio-demographics, which may be defined as age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, income, and household cohabitants.
The independent measures will be subjected under a 7-point bipolar scale. The questions for the variables will be generated from SG Sapp and HH Jensen’s (2012) research study. The diet variable will be measured using three designed questions (was your diet in the last one week higher or lower in nutrition value? How healthy have your food choices been in the past two weeks? In the period of the last two weeks how often, have you made healthy food choices?) The importance of having an healthy diet will be measured with the following questions. The questions will be framed, as how is it important for you to have a meal rich in nutrition? In addition, how does nutrition influence how you shop for your food?
The dependent variables were measured using the following questions does being in college influence your health food choices? the variable on gender will be covered when the participants tick whether they are male or female on the questionnaire. The demographic characteristics section in the questionnaire will majorly measure the dependent variables.
Discriminant validity analysis will be conducted to test the correlation of the measurements and concepts in question as well as the observation of Pearson correlation between independent variables. In addition, a test to test for biasness as information is being obtained from a single group of students will be conducted the utilization of the measure or coding scheme is necessary as it enables the research to give a numeral value to the variables making the research efficient and effective. The study went by the research ethics and codes and ensured no research ethics principle was compromised especially when dealing with the population and for the integrity of the study.
