(P24-024-23) Behavioral Changes, Dietary Habits and Factors Affecting Food Choices in College Students 2 Years Into the Pandemic

Objectives: Evaluate:1) dietary habits and perceptions of food available choices 2) perceptions of the food environment on campus and 3) behavioral changes related to the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in those students classified as overweight/obese vs. those with healthy BMI.

Methods: Cross-sectional. Online anonymous survey administered using email listserv as the main data collection tool in March 2022. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test.

Results: College students (n=708); median age 21.0 y. (IQR 20.0-23.0);, 74;5% women, 23% men, and 2.5% non-binary; 67% White, 14% Hispanic/Latino, 7% African American, 6% Asian & 10% multiracial. Approximately 32% of students eat more than 3 servings of vegetables/day and 22% eat more than 3 servings of fruits/day. Regarding cafeteria food choices, nutrient content (p < 0.001) and appearance of the food (p=0.013) were factors more often considered relevant among those with lower BMI vs Higher BMI. Among those with higher BM, the caloric content ( < 0.001) was the factor considered the most relevant. Higher BMI was associated with eating more than 3 meals per week at a restaurant (p=0.028), but there were no associations between meals at the cafeteria or meals eating at home and BMI. Results regarding perceptions of behavioral changes during the second year of COVID-19: weight increase (p < 0.001), and overeating(p < 0.001), were more likely among those with higher BMI; while over exercising was more likely among those with lower BMI (p=0.011). No differences in sleep and mood changes across different BMIs. Decrease in happiness was significantly associated with both overeating and gaining weight, while increase in happiness was associated with over exercising.

Conclusions: Approaches to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables are warranted for all students. Highlighting calories labels of meals at the cafeteria can be a strategy to help those students classified as overweight. Findings regarding COVID-19 weight changes, suggest the role of mental health in eating behavior in this group of college students.

Funding Sources: WSU Advancement Office