Article
Obesity and Food Choices Among Faculty and Staff at a Large Urban University
Journal of American College Health
(2010)
Abstract
Objective: In order to address increasing health care costs associated with obesity, this study sought to determine prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine eating behaviors, food choices, health beliefs, and attitudes of university employees. Participants and Methods: An online survey was distributed to > 3,800 faculty and staff at a large public metropolitan university in Winter 2008. Results: Almost half (48%) of 806 respondents were classified as overweight or obese. Compared to those with normal weights, overweight and obese respondents consumed fewer fruits and vegetables (p < .05), were less confident in making healthful food choices (p < .001), and were more influenced by food choices available in on-campus dining facilities (p < .05). Conclusions: Obesity among university employees warrants attention. Because these employees have less self-efficacy and consume less healthful diets than their normal weight colleagues, universities need to improve on-campus access to healthful foods.
Keywords
- faculty and staff,
- food choices,
- obesity,
- university
Disciplines
Publication Date
2010
DOI
10.1080/07448481.2010.502203
Publisher Statement
This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has been published in Journal of American College Health, 2010 in Volume 59, Issue 3. Find the published version of this article at this link.
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Citation Information
Marjorie R. Freedman and Rebecca J. Rubinstein. "Obesity and Food Choices Among Faculty and Staff at a Large Urban University" Journal of American College Health Vol. 59 Iss. 3 (2010) p. 205 - 210 ISSN: 0744-8481 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/marjorie_freedman/12/