Barriers to eating well and being active for Acadia students
LE3 .A278 2015
2015
Mehta, Rick
Acadia University
Bachelor of Science
Honours
Psychology with Applied Option
Psychology
Eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity are essential for physical and mental health, but many young adults are not engaging in these behaviors. The literature suggests that peoples’ perceptions of barriers may prevent them from engaging in these types of behaviors. The present study sought to determine if this trend was present at Acadia University, and to determine what barriers students perceived to these behaviors. The study used self-report measures to assess students’ eating habits, physical activity levels, and perceived barriers. Most of Acadia students’ diets needed improvement, and had moderate to high physical activity levels. However, students reported several barriers that they perceived to interfere with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Among these barriers were lack of time, cost, lack of knowledge, and lack of social support, all of which were congruent with the literature. New barriers that emerged in the present study included Meal Hall and other campus locations as barriers to eating a healthy diet, and feeling judged by others at the gym or poor weather conditions as barriers to physical activity. These findings provide a basis for future research as well as for practical applications in reducing these barriers on the Acadia campus. Keywords: young adults, university, barriers, diet, physical activity, health Barriers to Eating Well and Being Active for Acadia Students
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1231