Disparities in dietary intake, meal patterning, and home food environments among young adult nonstudents and 2- and 4-year college students.
We examined whether young adult meal patterning, dietary intake, and home food availability differed among nonstudents, 2-year college students, and 4-year college students (N = 1687; mean age = 20.5 years). Unadjusted analyses showed that few young adults consumed optimal diets and, compared with 4-year college students, nonstudents and 2-year students consumed fewer meals and poorer diets. After controlling for sociodemographics and living arrangements, we found that over half of the observed associations remained significant (P < .05). Nutrition interventions are needed for young adults, particularly specific at-risk groups.
Nelson
Melissa C
MC
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. nels5024@umn.edu
Larson
Nicole I
NI
Barr-Anderson
Daheia
D
Neumark-Sztainer
Dianne
D
Story
Mary
M
D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult