21st Annual Student Research Conference
College Students and Dining Options: Can Students Make Nutritionally Wise Choices?
Rebecca D. Bahrmasel* and Brendan R. Zee-Cheng
Prof. Liz Jorn, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to determine college students' awareness of nutrition facts posted in cafeterias and whether this influences their food selections. Students (n=200) from a small, Midwestern college were surveyed regarding their awareness of nutrition facts and their ability to identify food items with highest calories, fat content, etc. Subjects were given a score based on their nutritional knowledge for six scenarios. An independent t-test was used to analyze the total scores of subjects who read the nutrition facts compared to those who do not (t= .350, p= .727). No significant difference of scores was found from this analysis. A Pearson Correlation demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between BMI and subjects' scores (r=-.042, p=.552). Results of this research would be of interest to health educators and fitness directors in universities who teach general health classes.
Keywords: health education, nutrition, food labels, dietary options, BMI, food
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 7-1
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15