Comparing University of North Alabama Students’ Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
with American College Health Assessment Results
Erica Cervi, Taylor Hjelm, Bailey Plunket, Jessica Kelso, Savanah Sweet,
Savannah Thompson and Jill Goode Englett DCN, RDN, LDN, RN
Purpose
Abstract
Introduction: In the Spring 2016 American College Health
Assessment (ACHA), less than 6% of college students consumed
the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables
a day.1 Additionally over 36% of college students were classified
as overweight/obese.1 We hypothesized that the fruit and
vegetable intake of students from a Regional University in
Alabama (RUA), would be equal to or less than the intake
reported by ACHA. We additionally hypothesized that an equal or
greater number of students would fall into the overweight/obese
classification.
Methods: This descriptive study surveyed 471 students at a
RUA. The survey incorporated a validated fruit and vegetable
screener and collected demographic data. The fruit and
vegetable data was analyzed and students’ intake categorized
according to the ACHA categories. Students’ body mass index
(BMI) was calculated using self-reported height and weight data.
BMI’s were categorized according to the ACHA categories. RUA
data were compared with the results of the ACHA.
Results: The students at the RUA consumed a higher
percentage of fruits and vegetables than reported in the Spring
2016 ACHA. The students at the RUA had a higher percentage of
students classified as overweight /obese than the Spring 2016
ACHA.
Conclusion: RUA consumed more servings of fruits and
vegetables and had a higher percentage of overweight/obese
students than the national average for college students as
reported in the Spring 2016 ACHA.
Introduction
Consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables daily decreases
mortality, reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases and
aids in weight management.2-4 In 2010, Healthy Campus 2020
set a goal to increase the percentage of college students
consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day
by ten percent.5 Currently the trend is moving in the opposite
direction with a seven percent decline in the number of college
students consuming the recommended five or more servings of
fruits and vegetables per day over the last six years.1,6
Another Healthy Campus 2020 goal is to lower the percentage of
obese college students by 10%.5 This trend is also moving in the
opposite direction with the percentage of obese college students
increasing 20% over the last six years.1,6 Considering the positive
relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and weight
management, it only follows that a continued decline in college
student’s fruit and vegetable intake correlates with an increase in
the percentage of college students classified as obese.4 Despite
this trend little research exist on means of increasing student fruit
and vegetable consumption.
The purpose of this research was to explore the fruit and
vegetable intake and BMI of students at a RUA and examine
the need for student nutritional education to increase fruit and
vegetable consumption. Based on the data collected using a
validated food screener: 1) students’ fruit and vegetable
consumption was estimated and BMI values calculated; 2) this
data was compared to the ACHA national data.
Data, Results
Summary, Conclusions
Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Per Day
Conclusions
• RUA students consumed more servings of fruits and
vegetables per day than the national average for college
students as reported in the Spring 2016 ACHA.
• RUA students had a higher percentage of overweight and
obese patients than the national average for college students
as reported in the Spring 2016 ACHA.
Total
70.0%
59.6%
60.0%
48.8%
50.0%
40.0%
29.5%
30.0%
27.9%
19.7%
20.0%
10.0%
6.9%
5.6%
2.0%
Hypothesis
0.0%
0 servings per day
1-2 servings per day
Total Rural University in Alabama
We hypothesized that the fruit and vegetable intake of students
from a RUA, would be equal to or less than the intake reported
by ACHA. We additionally hypothesized that an equal or greater
number of students would fall into the overweight/obese
classification.
www.PosterPresentations.com
5 or more servings per day
Total Spring 2016 ACHA
Male
70.0%
61.6%
60.0%
46.2%
50.0%
40.0%
26.9%
30.0%
25.0%
26.9%
20.0%
8.6%
10.0%
4.8%
0.0%
0.0%
0 servings per day
Methods
1-2 servings per day
3-4 servings per day 5 or more servings per
day
Male Rural University in Alabama
Limitations
• Data collection was limited to one site and may not be
applicable to other regions.
• Data was self-reported but consistent with methods used in
the larger ACHA study.
Male Spring 2016 ACHA
Female
Design
Survey Research
70.0%
58.7%
60.0%
49.6%
50.0%
40.0%
Participants
• A convenience sample of consenting students recruited using
email invitations and flyers during the third, fourth and fifth
weeks of the spring 2017 semester.
• Enrolled at the University of North Alabama (UNA) in
Florence, Alabama
• N=472 (97 Male, 343 Female)
• 18-54 year of age (median age 20 years)
• Race:
• 368 White (78%)
• 65 African American (14%)
• 39 Other (8%)
• Classification
• 455 Undergraduate (96%)
• 17 Graduate or professional (4%)
30.3%
29.4%
30.0%
17.6%
20.0%
10.0%
2.5%
5.9%
5.9%
0.0%
0 servings per day
1-2 servings per day
3-4 servings per day 5 or more servings per
day
Female Rural University in Alabama
Female Spring 2016 ACHA
Body Mass Index Classification
Total
70.0%
58.5%
60.0%
47.6%
50.0%
40.0%
27.6%
30.0%
22.9%
10.0%
13.9%
4.9%
4.8%
0.0%
Underweight
Healthy Weight
Total Rural University in Alabama
Survey Administration
• Survey administered using
Qualtrics
• The initial question on the
survey described the purpose of
the study, and informed consent,
approved by the Institutional
Review Board, to potential
participants
• Eligible students who agreed to
participate completed a twentyone question anonymous survey
which included demographic
data questions and questions
from a validated fruit and
vegetable food screener
19.9%
20.0%
Overweight
Obese
Total Spring 2016 ACHA
Male
60.0%
54.1%
50.0%
40.0%
35.6%
34.6%
28.7%
30.0%
27.9%
References
1. American College Health Association. American College Health
Association - National College Health Assessment II: Reference
Group Executive Summary Spring 2016. Hanover, MD: American
College Health Association; 2016.
2. US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and
Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed.
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; December
2010.
3. Wang X, Ouyang Y, Liu J, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption
and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer:
systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of
prospective cohort studies. BMJ. 2014;349.
4. Gropper SS, Simmons KP, Connell LJ, Ulrich PV. Changes in
body weight, composition, and shape: a 4-year study of college
students. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012;37(6):1118-1123.
5. American College Health Association. Healthy Campus 2020.
http://www.acha.org/healthycampus/. Accessed January 20, 2017.
6. American College Health Association - National College Health
Assessment II: Reference Group Executive Summary Spring
2010. Linthicum, MD: American College Health Association; 2010.
20.0%
13.5%
10.0%
1.9%
Disclosure
3.5%
0.0%
Underweight
Healthy Weight
Male Rural University in Alabama
Overweight
Obese
Male Spring 2016 ACHA
Female
70.0%
60.8%
This study was made possible thanks to the support of:
• University of North Alabama QEP Research Grant which provided
financial assistance printing this poster and offset the travel cost of
attending and presenting at the Alabama Dietetic Association Meeting.
60.0%
51.2%
50.0%
Contact
40.0%
30.0%
25.3%
20.2%
20.0%
10.0%
Fruit and Vegetable Servings
BMI
17.7%
13.8%
5.7%
5.3%
0.0%
Underweight
Healthy Weight
Female Rural University in Alabama
TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008
3-4 servings per day
Summary
• The results of this study warrant further comparisons between
the dietary intake patterns of this RUA population and other
standards to determine potential dietary contributors to the
higher BMIs observed in the study sample.
• The results of this study suggest nutrition education for
achieving desirable BMIs in this RUA population should
include comprehensive diet strategies beyond increasing fruit
and vegetable intake.
Overweight
Female Spring 2016 ACHA
Obese
Erica Cervi
University of North Alabama
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (609)-350-0005