Difference of Nutrient Intake and Food Choices Between Alcohol Drinkers and Nondrinkers Among College Students

Objective: To estimate current consumption of energy and macronutrients in female college students and to determine whether changes occur in energy and macronutrient intake after nutrition intervention in the form of an interactive, introductory nutrition class. Design, Setting and Participants: The sample consisted of 70 female college students enrolled in an introductory nutrition class. Before and after the 15-week intervention, participants completed 3-day dietary records and a lifestyle questionnaire. Intervention: The class objectives included information to increase overall dietary quality and focused on prevention of chronic diseases. The class met 3 times a week for 50 minutes per session. OutcomeMeasures and Analysis: Paired t test was performed to determine changes in energy intake and macronutrient consumption. Percentage of calories from each macronutrient also was calculated. Results: At baseline, average intake of total energy was 2,210.87 724.58 kcal. After the intervention, total energy intake significantly decreased to 1,684.01 492.11 kcal (P < .001). Compared to the baseline values, average intake of energy-yieldingmacronutrients at the conclusion of the study decreased: fat from 83.66 41.33 g to 54.96 30.24 g (P < .005), protein from 68.67 21.03 g to 61.90 17.28 g (P < .001), and carbohydrate from 228.69 75.17 g to 199.19 62.63 g (P< .001). Average dietary fiber intake at posttest was 18.02 7.72 g, an increase from 15.34 6.80 g at pretest (P < .005). Conclusions and Implications: This study demonstrates that a general nutrition course can be used as an avenue to decrease energy intake in female college students, a group vulnerable to weight gain.