Undergraduates’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours associated with fad diets

ABSTRACT

Purpose

We aimed to determine undergraduate students’ use and knowledge of fad diets as well as examine how appealing students found these diets given the goal of rapid weight loss and/or improved health. Twenty-three students from a Midwestern university (mean age = 19.2, mean BMI = 27.35, 69.6% female) were recruited through new student orientations for this qualitative study. Approximately 52% of participants identified as White, 30% as Black, 13% as Asian, and 4% as multi-racial.

Methods

Knowledge and opinions about fad diets were collected via focus groups and individual interviews. Coding of transcripts was conducted by hand using the constant comparative method and data were analysed based on grounded theory.

Results

Two primary themes emerged: very negative views of fad diets and the importance of healthy eating. Although few participants had tried fad diets, they thought these diets: 1) did not lead to sustained weight loss, 2) were associated with disappointment and health issues, and 3) were money-making schemes delivered heavily through social media. Participants also valued healthy eating.

Conclusion

Experimental studies are needed to examine how healthy eating among university students can be supported through credible sources, accurate information, and established connections via innovative social media platforms.

KEYWORDS:

• Fad diets
• college students
• overweight
• social media
• healthy eating
• qualitative

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Erica Cogswell and Sofia Osorio-Martinez for creating and checking transcripts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Embark program at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.

Notes on contributors

Andrea T. Kozak

Andrea T. Kozak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. She teaches and mentors psychology undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Kozak’s research primarily centers around investigating factors that contribute to excess weight (low distress tolerance, dysfunctional eating patterns, poor sleep, stress); studying innovative ways to reduce weight and keep it off (e.g., tech behavioral health interventions); and examining the consequences of overweight and obesity (e.g., poor health-related quality of life, chronic diseases). She has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research designs.

Noah Garber

Noah Garber is completing his medical degree from the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.

Virginia Uhley

Virginia Uhley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies and Family Medicine & Community Health. She is responsible for the development, integration, and assessment of the longitudinal nutrition curriculum (M1-M4). Dr. Uhley’s research focuses on the role of nutrition on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, and diabetes. She is an expert in nutrition assessment methodology, measurement of clinical laboratory biomarkers associated with dietary intake, and medical nutrition therapy for obesity, diabetes, and cancer.