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Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students

Received: 30 December 2017     Accepted: 25 January 2018     Published: 12 February 2018
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Abstract

Background: College students have identified frequent unhealthy snacking from vending machines as influencing their dietary intake and weight status. However, research on associations between vending usage and weight status is lacking. Objectives: 1.) Compare college students’ demographic characteristics by frequency of vending machine usage (FVU) and body mass index (BMI). 2.) Determine associations between FVU and BMI levels among college students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample of college students (n=110) completed an online survey providing demographics, height and weight, and FVU – categorized as “none” (never or rarely), “low” (less than once per month, or “high” (once per month or more). Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics with comparisons by FVU and BMI levels. Associations between FVU and BMI levels, alone and controlling for sex and race/ethnicity, were tested using a proportional odds logistic model. Results: The majority of participants were in the lowest FVU (50%) and normal BMI (56%; M=24.2 kg/m2) levels. BMI was significantly different by FVU levels (p=.012). Logistic regression indicated the highest FVU category was associated with a 4.6 times greater odds of being overweight or obese (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study described a significant relationship between higher levels of FVU and higher levels of BMI among college students. This formative evidence can inform future vending interventions in this population.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11
Page(s) 39-46
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vending Machine Usage, Weight Status, College Students

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Morgan Faulk Sowers, Sarah Colby, Wenjun Zhou, Agricola Odoi, Elizabeth Anderson Steeves, et al. (2018). Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 7(2), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11

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    ACS Style

    Morgan Faulk Sowers; Sarah Colby; Wenjun Zhou; Agricola Odoi; Elizabeth Anderson Steeves, et al. Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2018, 7(2), 39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11

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    AMA Style

    Morgan Faulk Sowers, Sarah Colby, Wenjun Zhou, Agricola Odoi, Elizabeth Anderson Steeves, et al. Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2018;7(2):39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11,
      author = {Morgan Faulk Sowers and Sarah Colby and Wenjun Zhou and Agricola Odoi and Elizabeth Anderson Steeves and Katie Kavanagh},
      title = {Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {39-46},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20180702.11},
      abstract = {Background: College students have identified frequent unhealthy snacking from vending machines as influencing their dietary intake and weight status. However, research on associations between vending usage and weight status is lacking. Objectives: 1.) Compare college students’ demographic characteristics by frequency of vending machine usage (FVU) and body mass index (BMI). 2.) Determine associations between FVU and BMI levels among college students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample of college students (n=110) completed an online survey providing demographics, height and weight, and FVU – categorized as “none” (never or rarely), “low” (less than once per month, or “high” (once per month or more). Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics with comparisons by FVU and BMI levels. Associations between FVU and BMI levels, alone and controlling for sex and race/ethnicity, were tested using a proportional odds logistic model. Results: The majority of participants were in the lowest FVU (50%) and normal BMI (56%; M=24.2 kg/m2) levels. BMI was significantly different by FVU levels (p=.012). Logistic regression indicated the highest FVU category was associated with a 4.6 times greater odds of being overweight or obese (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study described a significant relationship between higher levels of FVU and higher levels of BMI among college students. This formative evidence can inform future vending interventions in this population.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students
    AU  - Morgan Faulk Sowers
    AU  - Sarah Colby
    AU  - Wenjun Zhou
    AU  - Agricola Odoi
    AU  - Elizabeth Anderson Steeves
    AU  - Katie Kavanagh
    Y1  - 2018/02/12
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 46
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180702.11
    AB  - Background: College students have identified frequent unhealthy snacking from vending machines as influencing their dietary intake and weight status. However, research on associations between vending usage and weight status is lacking. Objectives: 1.) Compare college students’ demographic characteristics by frequency of vending machine usage (FVU) and body mass index (BMI). 2.) Determine associations between FVU and BMI levels among college students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample of college students (n=110) completed an online survey providing demographics, height and weight, and FVU – categorized as “none” (never or rarely), “low” (less than once per month, or “high” (once per month or more). Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics with comparisons by FVU and BMI levels. Associations between FVU and BMI levels, alone and controlling for sex and race/ethnicity, were tested using a proportional odds logistic model. Results: The majority of participants were in the lowest FVU (50%) and normal BMI (56%; M=24.2 kg/m2) levels. BMI was significantly different by FVU levels (p=.012). Logistic regression indicated the highest FVU category was associated with a 4.6 times greater odds of being overweight or obese (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study described a significant relationship between higher levels of FVU and higher levels of BMI among college students. This formative evidence can inform future vending interventions in this population.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Department of Business Analytics and Statistics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

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