Campus Food Infrastructure and Poor Eating Behavior At Belmont University

Publication Date

12-2024

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Department

Public Health, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

SPARK Category

Research

Faculty Advisor

Chrisitan Williams

WELL Core Type

Environmental Wellness

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Universities are responsible for creating food environments that support and encourage students to eat healthy. This study conducted in fall 2024, examined the impact of campus dining infrastructure on the eating behaviors of undergraduate students at Belmont University. The observations from this research are in light of the poor health grade Belmont’s Harrington Dining Place received in fall 2023, affecting its public image among students and their families. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study incorporated a cross-sectional survey combining the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TEFQ) and a modified Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for College Dining (NEMS-CD), along with open ended questions. Results indicate that students who rely on meal plans, particularly those living on campus, exhibit higher levels of food-related anxiety, meal restraint, and dissatisfaction with food variety and quality. The NEMS-CD assessment of Belmont’s main dining hall revealed limited access to fresh and nutritious foods and infrastructure that encouraged unhealthy eating behavior. Student responses emphasized convenience, cost, and meal plan structure as key barriers to healthy eating. These findings align with existing literature on choice architecture and the Social Ecological Model, highlighting the need for university-led interventions to improve food variety and accessibility. Enhancing campus food environments through increased availability of whole foods in the dining hall and across campus could support healthier dietary behaviors among students.

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