Evaluation of effectiveness of class-based nutrition intervention on changes in soft drink and milk consumption among young adults

Abstract

Background: During last few decades, soft drink consumption has steadily increased while milk intake has decreased. Excess consumption of soft drinks and low milk intake may pose risks of several diseases such as dental caries, obesity, and osteoporosis. Although beverage consumption habits form during young adulthood, which has a strong impact on beverage choices in later life, nutrition education programs on beverages are scarce in this population. The purpose of this investigation was 1) to assess soft drink and milk consumption and 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of 15-week class-based nutrition intervention in changing beverage choices among college students.

Transitional Changes in Energy Intake, Skeletal Muscle Content and Nutritional Behavior in College Students During Course-Work Based Nutrition Education

“…At the beginning of the study, only 13% of total study participants ate more than one serving of fruit per day, though the average consumption of fruit (0.4) was similar or less than previous studies [20,27]. After the coursework this number increased up to 26%.…”

“…However, overall, study participants did not meet the recommended intake of most type of food in this study. The effectiveness of nutrition education in weight management, food choice and nutritional behavior was well addressed in a wide range of literature [27-29]. For example, school based nutrition education decreased soft drink consumption but increased milk and dairy products in female and male college students [27].…”

“…The effectiveness of nutrition education in weight management, food choice and nutritional behavior was well addressed in a wide range of literature [27-29]. For example, school based nutrition education decreased soft drink consumption but increased milk and dairy products in female and male college students [27]. Nutrition education via e-mail supply improved the intake of dairy products and self regulation strategies to increase low fat dairy products [28].…”

Effects of Social Norms Information and Self-Affirmation on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Intentions and Behaviors

“…For instance, Bergen and Yeh (2006) found that vending machines with clear labels for beverages that contain no energy (i.e., “0 calories, 0 carbs”) and motivational posters encouraging the consumption of non-energy beverages had a lower growth rate of SSB sales compared to control machines with no labels or posters. In another intervention, Ha, Caine-Bish, Holloman, and Lowry-Gordon (2009) found a reduction in SSB consumption among college students who took a basic nutrition class. Finally, in a behavioral-economics approach, Yang and Chiou (2010) found that when college students were provided money to buy a beverage of their choice they often bought the lower-priced beverage unless they had been exposed to health-concerns information; in that case, they bought the healthy alternative—even when its price was higher.…”

A Cosmetic Content–Based Nutrition Education Program Improves Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Grade 11 Thai Students

“…An emphasis on outcome expectations and expectancies along with adolescents' attention points when designing nutrition promotion programs may drive adolescents to increase F&V consumption. Several previous studies have conducted nutrition education programs focusing on health effects 18 or chronic disease prevention [19][20][21] to improve healthy food consumption among college students or young adults. Positive changes in eating habits have been found in some food groups.…”