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Assessing the effectiveness of nutrition interventions implemented among US college students to promote healthy behaviors: A systematic review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brace, AM; De Andrade, FC; Finkelstein, B
Published in: Nutrition and health
September 2018

Nutrition interventions are used to increase knowledge, change attitudes and beliefs about healthy eating, to increase skills, and promote healthy eating.To review the effectiveness of published nutrition interventions implemented among college students to promote healthy behaviors.The authors explored multiple electronic databases, such as ERIC, Science Direct, and EBSCOhost. Search criteria included nutritional interventions implemented among students attending US colleges, written in English, and published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2015. The authors conducted a systematic search of 1413 articles, and an in-depth review of 30 articles. The authors evaluated the following: (a) participants; (b) research design; (c) assessment instruments; (d) outcome measures; (e) results; and (f) methodological issues.Short-term interventions showed promise in promoting positive dietary changes, which can serve as a protective factor for developing overweight and obesity. Methodological issues related to lack of comparison groups and minimal long-term follow-up do not allow researchers to determine if the interventions were the cause of the change, or if these changes are sustained over time. Studies that have a comparison group, use visual displays, or have longer durations, may maximize outcomes, improving long-term effects.Nutrition interventions can effectively change dietary habits among college students. This can lead to healthy weight management and reduce the risk for overweight and obesity. Future research should consider the highlighted methodological issues to improve the quality of nutrition interventions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Nutrition and health

DOI

ISSN

0260-1060

Publication Date

September 2018

Volume

24

Issue

3

Start / End Page

171 / 181

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • United States
  • Students
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Humans
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Behavior
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Diet
 

Citation

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Brace, A. M., De Andrade, F. C., & Finkelstein, B. (2018). Assessing the effectiveness of nutrition interventions implemented among US college students to promote healthy behaviors: A systematic review. Nutrition and Health, 24(3), 171–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/0260106018785528
Brace, Andrea M., Fernanda Cd De Andrade, and Bobbi Finkelstein. “Assessing the effectiveness of nutrition interventions implemented among US college students to promote healthy behaviors: A systematic review.Nutrition and Health 24, no. 3 (September 2018): 171–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0260106018785528.
Brace, Andrea M., et al. “Assessing the effectiveness of nutrition interventions implemented among US college students to promote healthy behaviors: A systematic review.Nutrition and Health, vol. 24, no. 3, Sept. 2018, pp. 171–81. Epmc, doi:10.1177/0260106018785528.
Journal cover image

Published In

Nutrition and health

DOI

ISSN

0260-1060

Publication Date

September 2018

Volume

24

Issue

3

Start / End Page

171 / 181

Related Subject Headings

  • Universities
  • United States
  • Students
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Humans
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Behavior
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Diet