The authors assessed the diet and exercise habits and perceived barriers to following a healthy lifestyle of 471 college students. Sixty percent of the participants were female and 31% had BMIs > 25. Breakfast was the most commonly missed meal and 63% of students snacked one to two times per day. Fifty-eight percent of participants ate vegetables and 64% ate whole or canned fruit less than once per day. Men consumed more soda and alcohol and used higher fat dairy, ate more meat, and ate fewer vegetables and fruits than women. Over half of the subjects rated their diet as poor or fair with “lack of time” listed as the number one barrier to eating well. Men exercised more frequently and at greater intensity than women and were more confident with their body image. The most common barrier to exercise was “lack of time.” The results of this study have implications for the design of general and specific diet and physical activity interventions among college students.

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This study examined fruit intake among 276 female Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) community college students. Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with fruit intake were determined. The attitudes which are potential predictors of daily fruit intake were also examined. Analysis showed that 33% ate fewer than the minimum recommended two daily servings of fruit. Students reported that fruit gave them energy, taste and cost were not barriers to consumption and that it would not be difficult to increase daily fruit consumption. A linear regression analysis revealed that beliefs that eating fruit leads to good health, having a habit of eating fruit, feeling energy, and weight loss accounted for 30% of the variance in fruit intake.

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