AMONG YOUNG-ADULTS, COLLEGE-STUDENTS AND GRADUATES PRACTICED MORE HEALTHFUL HABITS AND MADE MORE HEALTHFUL FOOD CHOICES THAN DID NONSTUDENTS

Objectives Health-related characteristics and habits and food choices of young adults were compared for three groups: college students, coll ege graduates, and nonstudents. Design Subjects completed a mailed sur vey that included questions about demographics, attitudes, and behavio rs and a food frequency questionnaire. Main outcome measures were heal th-related characteristics and habits and food choices. Subjects Femal e (n=758) and male (n=580) 18- to 24-year-olds in nine states who were selected randomly by zip code in each state. The response rate averag ed 43% for all states. Statistical analyses performed Analysis of vari ance or chi(2) tests were applied to health-related personal character istic variables and the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was applie d to food consumption variables for women and men separately. Results According to self-reported heights and weights, female nonstudents wer e more often overweight than female students or graduates. Nonstudents of both genders reported smoking more often than students or graduate s. College students and graduates ate more grain foods high in dietary fiber, more fruits and dark-green vegetables, and more lower-fat milk and meats than nonstudents. Conclusions/applications Nonstudents were at greater health risk for some chronic illnesses, because of poorer health habits and food choices, than were college students and graduat es. The behavior of nonstudents implies weaker response to messages pr omoting weight control, smoking cessation, and observance of the Dieta ry Guidelines for Americans than behavior exhibited by students or col lege graduates. Health promotion efforts could be enhanced by identify ing demographic, educational, situational, and formative influences on positive health and dietary behaviors of young adults.