Dietary Intake, Body Mass Index, Exercise, and Alcohol: Are College Women Following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans?

Abstract

Study findings suggest that college women practice diet and health behaviors that contradict the 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To confirm this hypothesis, the authors surveyed the diet, exercise, and health habits of 60 female students enrolled in three university aerobics courses. They measured height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI) and assessed physical activity, using the Self-Reported Physical Activity scale. To estimate food and nutrient intake, they used 3-day food records. Participants reported diets that were nutritionally adequate but exceeded national recommendations for fat, sugar, and sodium, and their reports of exercise habits suggested that the lifestyles of 66% of the respondents were sedentary. Although the students' mean BMIs suggested healthy weights, 25% of the women were classified as overweight. A majority of the participants were following at least 1 of the 7 dietary guidelines; however, no participant was adhering to all proposed behaviors.