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Nutrition knowledge and survey among urban college students
Author(s) -
Tan Irene,
Ho Charlene C,
Ho Yen Kuang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.684.5
Subject(s) - waist , demography , medicine , gerontology , national health and nutrition examination survey , population , significant difference , statistical significance , environmental health , body mass index , sociology
Written expression of nutrition knowledge may be an informative indicator to assess the nutrition practices among urban college students. The objective of the “Self‐Assessment” questionnaire survey instrumentation (Adapted Nutrition Action Health Letter, CSPI) is to identify the nutrition habits of urban college students. The questionnaire was distributed among San Francisco City College students enrolled in the Fall 2007, Human Biology class. The survey does not attempt to include all aspects of the student's diet. In addition, the survey does not measure precisely the key nutrients. Each answer rates the students’ nutritional eating habits from a scale +4 (best) to –4 (worst). The average of the total score for 39 questions for male and female are 2.83 and 16.49, respectively. There was no statistical difference in Group 1 between male and female, but the remainder Groups (2–4) show statistical difference (p < 0.05) between both genders. Male had 52%, 31%, 17% and female had 24%, 43%, 31% for Group 2, 3, 4, respectively. BMI was calculated to show no significant different in BMI between male (23.32) and female (22.98), but the pattern of distribution remains normal and show variations between male and female students. The percentage of students with BMI<18.5 between female and male are statistically different, 12% and 2%, respectively. Both male and female students with a BMI > 30 are 6.5%, lower then U.S. general population. Waist circumference measurements were collected, 87 cm (male) 73 cm (female). The survey instrument found college students know how to improve nutrition and physical activity considerably, but there is lots of room to improve.