Audrey A Opoku-Acheampong1, Tandalayo Kidd2, Koushik Adhikari3, Nancy Muturi4, Kendra Kattelmann5. 1. Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Health, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. 2. Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Health, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Electronic address: martan@k-state.edu. 3. Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA. 4. AQ Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. 5. Health and Nutritional Sciences Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a 15-month intervention for reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among college students and assess fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake and physical activity (PA) habits and their relationship to SSB intake. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 156 college students (aged 18-24 years) from a Kansas university, mostly female (72%), white (89%), and freshmen (51%). INTERVENTION: Two-staged intervention included participants receiving: (1) 3 weekly stage-tailored messages on healthful behaviors for 10 weeks; and (2) 3 monthly stage-tailored messages and 1 monthly e-mail encouraging a visit to the portal page, after the 3-month physical assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Stages of change for PA and F/V intake, self-reported PA scores, self-reported F/V intake, and SSB intake habits. ANALYSIS: Generalized linear mixed models and linear regression models were used to test changes and associations among outcome measures. RESULTS: No significant decrease occurred in SSB consumption (P > .05) among intervention participants. Both control and intervention groups recorded low F/V intake and moderate PA scores. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Low F/V intake and high SSB intake evident among study participants may pose risk for unwanted weight gain and obesity-related conditions. Furthermore, college campuses can continue to support an environment conducive for being physically active, while promoting healthy eating behaviors.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a 15-month intervention for reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among college students and assess fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake and physical activity (PA) habits and their relationship to SSB intake. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 156 college students (aged 18-24 years) from a Kansas university, mostly female (72%), white (89%), and freshmen (51%). INTERVENTION: Two-staged intervention included participants receiving: (1) 3 weekly stage-tailored messages on healthful behaviors for 10 weeks; and (2) 3 monthly stage-tailored messages and 1 monthly e-mail encouraging a visit to the portal page, after the 3-month physical assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Stages of change for PA and F/V intake, self-reported PA scores, self-reported F/V intake, and SSB intake habits. ANALYSIS: Generalized linear mixed models and linear regression models were used to test changes and associations among outcome measures. RESULTS: No significant decrease occurred in SSB consumption (P > .05) among intervention participants. Both control and intervention groups recorded low F/V intake and moderate PA scores. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Low F/V intake and high SSB intake evident among study participants may pose risk for unwanted weight gain and obesity-related conditions. Furthermore, college campuses can continue to support an environment conducive for being physically active, while promoting healthy eating behaviors.