Using multi-theory model to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption among college students

Manoj Sharma; Hannah Priest Catalano; Vinayak K Nahar; Vimala Lingam; Paul Johnson; M Allison Ford

doi:10.15171/hpp.2016.22

Using multi-theory model to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption among college students

Health Promot Perspect. 2016 Aug 10;6(3):137-44. doi: 10.15171/hpp.2016.22. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Manoj Sharma¹, Hannah Priest Catalano², Vinayak K Nahar³, Vimala Lingam¹, Paul Johnson⁴, M Allison Ford⁵

Affiliations

¹ Behavioral & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, MS, USA.
² Public Health Studies, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC, USA.
³ Department of Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, USA; Department of Health, Exercise Science & Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, MS, USA.
⁴ Department of Management, School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, MS, USA.
⁵ Department of Health, Exercise Science & Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, MS, USA.

Abstract

Background: Consumption of large portion sizes is contributing to overweight and obesity.College students are a vulnerable group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to use multi-theory model (MTM) to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption in college students.

Methods: A total of 135 students at a large Southern US University completed a 35-item valid (face, content, and construct) and reliable (internally consistent) survey electronically in a cross-sectional design. The main outcome measures were intention to start eating small portion sizes and continuing to eat small portion sizes. Only those students who ate large portion sizes during the past 24 hours were included.

Results: Step wise multiple regression showed that initiation of small portion size consumption was explained by participatory dialogue (advantages outweighing disadvantages), behavioral confidence, age, and gender (adjusted R(2) = 0.37, P < 0.001). Males were less likely to initiate small portion size consumption than females (β = -0.185, 95% CI = -0.71- -0.11). Regarding sustenance, emotional transformation, changes in social environment, and race were the significant predictors (adjusted R(2) = 0.20, P < 0.001). Whites were less likely to sustain small portion size change than other races (β = -0.269, 95% CI = -0.97 - -0.26).

Conclusion: Based on this study's findings, MTM appears to be a robust theoretical framework for predicting small portion size consumption behavior change. Interventions in this regard need to be designed.

Keywords: Diet; Nutrition; Obesity; Overweight; Portion size.