Physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are among the main behaviors that potentially have adverse effects on weight status in young adulthood, and consequently, the future health of adults.

According to a scoping review of risk behavior interventions in young men, Ashton, Hutchesson, Rollo, Morgan & Collins identified obesity as a serious health risk with an incidence rate of obesity reaching 29% of the population aged 20вЂ“39 years old. Overweightness and obesity rates have dramatically increased over the past few decades and they represent a health epidemic in the United States, as well as in many other areas of the world. The study highlighted the importance of consulting college students when developing healthy eating interventions across the campus (e.g., labeling healthy food options and information campaigns) and considering individual-level factors and socio-ecological aspects in the analysis. Parental food behavior and friendsвЂ™ social pressure were considered to have both positive and negative influences on individual eating habits. Conversely, enablers to healthy behavior were improved food knowledge and education, meal planning, involvement in food preparation, and being physically active. Common barriers to healthy eating were time constraints, unhealthy snacking, convenience high-calorie food, stress, high prices of healthy food, and easy access to junk food. A qualitative software, CAQDAS Nvivo11 Plus, was used to create codes that categorized the group discussions while using an Ecological Model. A group of Cornell University students ( n = 35) participated in six semi-structured focus groups. The purpose of this explorative study was to use a qualitative research design to analyze the factors (barriers and enablers) that US college students perceived as influencing healthy eating behaviors.

Unhealthy dietary habits are among the factors that can have adverse effects on weight status in young adulthood. Overweightness and obesity rates have increased dramatically over the past few decades and they represent a health epidemic in the United States (US).

Gomez peer 2018