Date of Graduation

5-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Economics

Advisor/Mentor

Brownback, Andy

Committee Member

Gaduh, Arya

Abstract

Many health related issues in the United States are linked to Americans’ poor diet choices. College students, a subset of that population, establish important trends in their diet habits that they will maintain over their four years in college and beyond. Although previous literature has found income to be a determinant of diet, this paper does not find income to be a significant predictor of student nutrition. One potential explanation is that college provides a unique environment and circumstance. Yet, additional income suggests it could be important for students who suffer from a lack of funds—increasing their income brings about relatively healthier choices compared to students who do not suffer from a lack of funds. However, obtaining additional income via allowance emerges as an unfavorable circumstance—students receiving an allowance significantly, negatively predict nutrition. Finally, I find gender and senior status to be the remaining significant predictors of nutrition. These results, overall, contribute to the discussion regarding nutrition in a population experiencing an important, habit-forming stage in life.

Keywords

Economics; Nutrition; Income; Financial Support; Student

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