Cost and Calorie Analysis of Fast Food Consumption in College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess money spent and calories consumed by college students from fast food restaurants located on and around a southern college campus. A convenience sample (n = 152) of undergraduate college students (aged 18 -24) at a southern university participated in a survey that measured dietary intake from seven local fast food chains using a researcher developed food frequency questionnaire and a lifestyle behavior survey that collected data on health practices. A strong positive correlation was found between total monthly fast food expense and total monthly fast food caloric consumption (r(150) = 0.94, p < 0.05), indicating a significant linear relationship between the two variables. An independent-samples t test comparing the mean monthly fast food restaurant expense males to females found a significant difference between the two groups (t(150) = 4.19, p < 0.05). The more money spent by college students contributed to a higher amount of calories consumed from fast food in a typical month. Future research needs to determine if college students are contributing to the high obesity rate and if limiting fast food restaurants on and around college campuses would help decrease fast food consumption in college students.

Obesity-Related Dietary Patterns and Health Status of Diabetes Among At-Risk Latino College Students

“…To conclude, the typical Latino student in this study consumed a diet detrimental to longterm health and linked to obesity in young adults (Heidal et al, 2012; Huffman & West, 2007; O’Leary et al, 2012; Racette et al, 2005). Likewise, the negative obesity-related dietary behaviors observed in Latino students tended to cluster together to form an overall unhealthy lifestyle eating pattern.…”

“…These findings mirror those reported in other studies of university students (Adam & Colner, 2008; Block, Gillman, Linakis, & Goldman, 2013; Byrd-Bredbenner et al, 2012; Cohen, Sturn, Scott, Farley, & Bluthenthal, 2010; Evan et al, 2000; Hu et al, 2011; Larson et al, 2008). The above mentioned dietary behaviors are generally linked to excess weight gain and increased risk for diabetes in young adults and college students (Heidal et al, 2012; Huffman & West, 2007; O’Leary et al, 2012; Racette et al, 2005).…”

Assessment of Service Quality in the Fast-Food Restaurant

“…Although college students are not assumed to be representative of all FFR customers in Taiwan, they represent an significant segment of the upper and middle classes in Taiwan, which are the groups targeted by most corporations in foreign countries (Huang, 2003;Laroche, Ueltschy, Abe, Cleveland, & Yannopoulos, 2004;Ueltschy, Laroche, Tamilia, & Yannopoulos, 2004). Furthermore, the college students were selected as respondents because they represented a large and growing number of customers spending billions of dollars in FFRs each year (Heidal et al, 2012). Furthermore, using students as the respondents is consistent sample with previous studies on FFRs (Bougoure & Neu, 2010;Knutson, 2000;Qin & Prybutok, 2008).…”

Does providing nutrition information at vending machines reduce calories per item sold?

“…College students are more likely to consider taste than health (for example, calorie content) when choosing snacks 13 and females are more likely to choose lower calorie items than males 17 . The effects of providing nutrition labels at the vending machine site would be small and moderated by sex.…”