Weighing in college students' diet and exercise behaviors

Abstract

A questionnaire was used to investigate the nutritional health behaviors of 302 college students at a large urban university. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each student, using self-reported heights and weights. Eight percent of the surveyed students were categorized as overweight on the basis of their BMIs. However, 50% of the students who were rated underweight on the basis of their BMIs classified themselves as overweight. Only 39% of the students reported exercising 3 or more times per week; 76% of the students reported that they ate the same foods day after day. Recommendations are presented for colleges and universities that are offering or are considering offering nutritional education programs for students.