Students of Cohort23: Health Enhancing Behaviors, Healthy Attitudes and Meal Patterns

By
Sandra M. Hagans

Wilmington University
Peer Review:
January 2014

Introduction
Health is linked to the way many people live their lives. Healthy behaviors can be defined as many things such as non-smoking, physically inactive, moderate alcohol intake, healthy eating, safeguards to sexual activity, vitamin intake and positive relationships. (Phoenix, Mo & Winnie, 2009). Whereas unhealthy behaviors can be defined as abusing alcohol or drugs, unbalanced nutrition and the lack of physical activity. There are many issues around eating healthy such as the cost of healthy foods, taste i.e. good versus bad, or the availability or access, or weight control (van Kleef’, Otten, and van Trijp, 2012). Examples of unhealthy dietary patterns that have become increasingly prevalent include irregular meals and frequent unhealthy snacks dominating eating habits (Spanos & Hankey, 2009). The importance of a healthy lifestyle and well-being are receiving an increasing amount of attention and Phoenix and Winnie (2009) noted that The World Health Organization estimated that 50.8% of deaths are attributed to diseases closely related to unhealthy lifestyles. Social and cultural aspects of people’s food choices that involve their attitudes and motives behind their food choice have been recognized as important factors (Fjellstrom, 2004). This has important health implications for health care costs, and important effects on productivity and quality of life (Phoenix, 2009).
Research Question
Do the students of Cohort 23 have perceived healthy attitudes, behaviors, and meal patterns that contribute to well-being? Definition of Terms
Spanos & Hankey (2009) define meal patterns or eating patterns as frequency of consumption of breakfast, lunch and dinner by a person or a group of people.