Personal Beliefs, the Environment and College Students' Exercise and Eating Behaviors

Abstract

College students are at risk for overweight/obesity. It was hypothesized that better nutrition and physical activity (PA) would be related to healthy environmental perceptions and personal beliefs. A survey was administered to 169 students. Linear regressions were performed to examine the relationships between PA/healthy dietary habits and perceptions of body weight, self-efficacy, perceived threat of health problems, awareness of and satisfaction with campus services (PA), and availability of healthy foods (nutrition), for overweight and healthy-weight students separately. Among healthy-weight students, greater self-efficacy was associated with more PA and healthier diets. Among overweight students, greater satisfaction with PA services was associated with more PA.