University Students Purchasing Food on Campus More Frequently Consume More Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Foods: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

University food environments are typically dominated by unhealthy food choices. The aim was to investigate associations between on-campus food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake in an Australian university student sample. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017–2018 with students (n = 362, 71.0% female, mean age 27.5 ± 10.5 years) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. On-campus food purchasing behaviours (purchasing frequency and weekly expenditure), dietary intake (diet quality and percentage energy/day from energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods) and sociodemographic and student characteristics (e.g., time spent on campus) were measured. Linear regression was used to explore associations between food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake, adjusted for potential confounders. Mean percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was 31.7 ± 14.4. Mean diet quality score was 32.6 ± 10.2 out of 73. Higher percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was associated with higher weekly expenditure (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and more frequent purchase (β = 18.041, p < 0.001 for ≥4 times a week vs. never) of food/drinks on campus. Diet quality was not significantly associated with purchase frequency or expenditure (p > 0.05). Findings are supportive of changes being made to university food environments, as a strategy to improve dietary intake among university students.

Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is only slightly below the national average in young adults (19-30 years), where 36% of energy intake came from discretionary foods [48], and consistent with a recent report in Australian university students from a range of study areas (the majority from Education and Arts), where 32% of energy intake came from EDNP foods [7]. Consumption of EDNP foods was associated with more frequent purchasing of foods and drinks on-campus [7]. Among students enrolled in a nutrition class in Australia [49], consumption of takeaway food was less frequent than that reported in other studies in young adults [50,51], and, in a cohort of Romanian medical students, the majority reported that they consumed fast food either not at all or only once per week [52].…”

“…The consumption of EDNP foods contributed to ~31% of total energy intake in both male and female students. This is only slightly below the national average in young adults (19-30 years), where 36% of energy intake came from discretionary foods [48], and consistent with a recent report in Australian university students from a range of study areas (the majority from Education and Arts), where 32% of energy intake came from EDNP foods [7]. Consumption of EDNP foods was associated with more frequent purchasing of foods and drinks on-campus [7].…”

“…Energy-adjusted intake was also calculated as grams of fruit or vegetables consumed per 1000 kJ of total energy intake. Classification of EDNP foods was inferred from the Australian Dietary Guidelines (Guideline 3; [23]) and included a subset of nine food items, including packaged snacks (e.g., potato crisps, muesli bars), confectionery (e.g., ice-cream, chocolate, lollies), baked sweets (e.g., desserts, cakes, muffins), sweetened drinks (e.g., soft drinks, cordial), fatty/processed meats (e.g., sausages, bacon, ham, meat pies), fast food/takeaway (e.g., hot chips, pizza), spreads and sauces (e.g., butter, margarine, jam, cream cheese, mayonnaise, tomato/barbeque sauces, commercial dressings), alcoholic drinks, and miscellaneous (e.g., coffee, tea) [7,24]. Mixed meals with the occasional EDNP ingredient, e.g., pea and ham soup or fried rice with vegetables and bacon, were not regarded as EDNP foods.…”

“…Numerous international studies have reported high intake of confectionary, processed meat, and fast foods, and low consumption of cereals, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, among university students [2][3][4]. Similarly, in Australia, studies have reported that the vast majority of university students do not meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake [5,6], a likely consequence of energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) food intake [7]. There are no published data on whether Australian university students are meeting specific nutrient requirements, according to the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand [8].…”

On‐campus food purchasing behaviours and satisfaction of Australian university students

“…qualt rics.com/). 22 The survey aimed to determine students' dietary intake and their opinions about the cost and availability of food and beverages on-campus at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Eligible participants were students enrolled in face-to-face courses for university…”