An Ecological Exploration of the Impact of Residence Hall Living on Fitness and Nutritional Behaviors

Abstract

Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Obesity places at risk for developing heart disease, hypertension and cancer. Obesity is increasingly more prevalent among college students due to personal, interpersonal and environmental facilitators. College is a time when students are beginning to develop habits that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. In order to combat this epidemic, college health professionals must examine strategies to increase the physical activity and the availability of healthy nutritional choices among students. Few studies have looked at the impact of residence hall living among students when attempting to make healthy choices. This study will use the Social Ecological Model to determine the intrapersonal interpersonal, and environmental barriers and facilitators that college students face as well as provide potential interventions.