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Cited by 1,314Obesity, Physical Activity, DietHealth and Lifestyle StudiesNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

Emerging adulthood and college-aged youth: An overlooked age for weight-related behavior change

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Nelson, Melissa C., Story, Mary, Larson, Nicole I., Neumark‐Sztainer, Dianne, Lytle, Leslie A.·2008·Obesity
DOI 10.1038/oby.2008.365
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Abstract

Obesity is a major public health concern, and effective population-wide intervention strategies aimed at reducing obesity are needed. Although a growing body of literature has explored modifiable determinants of excess weight gain in adults and, to a lesser extent, in children, other important ages have been understudied. Though once considered to be an age of optimal health and well-being, the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is gaining recognition as an important time for health promotion and disease prevention. Not only is the presence of obesity and unhealthy lifestyle characteristics at this life stage associated with increased chronic disease risk, but this also may be a critical time during which young people establish independence and adopt lasting health behavior patterns. The objectives of this article are to: (i) describe emerging adulthood as a developmentally unique life stage, (ii) highlight epidemiologic evidence documenting adverse changes in diet, physical activity, and weight during this stage, (iii) discuss the influence of food and beverage marketing targeting emerging adults, and (iv) illustrate the need for health promotion and intervention efforts that could target young adults through settings such as postsecondary institutions. Over the past 50 years, major population-level demographic shifts including increases in postsecondary education and delays in marriage and childbearing have occurred. These shifts have opened the door for a period of “emerging adulthood,” typically defined as 18–25 years of age (1). This period is marked by important transitions such as leaving home and increasing autonomy in decision-making; however at the same time, adult responsibilities such as financial independence and residential and employment stability are still in flux. This period of emerging adulthood may be an important, yet overlooked, age for establishing long-term health behavior patterns. Several factors differentiate emerging adulthood from other life stages and have specific relevance to the formation of health behavior patterns, including identity development and shifting interpersonal influences. One defining characteristic of this life stage is the development of a self identity. Emerging adulthood is a time for the exploration of new ideologies and behaviors which allow individuals to express their individuality. Given previous research showing that identity (e.g., incorporating healthy lifestyle characteristics in the concept of one's self) is an important indicator of lasting health behavior change, emerging adulthood may be a particularly important time for establishing and intervening on long-term health behavior patterns (2,3). In addition, other psychosocial attributes associated with beneficial health behaviors (e.g., self-efficacy) develop or become established during this period of emerging adulthood (4), providing support for the unique importance of this life stage in long-term behavioral patterning. Emerging adulthood may also be a time for changing support systems and shifting interpersonal influences. Although the influence of parents and family is well established in the literature on childhood and, to a lesser extent, adolescent diet and physical activity patterns, little research has examined these issues among young adults. Young adults spend more leisure time alone compared to other age group (except retirees ≥55 years) (5) and are often assumed to be more disconnected from their family. However, some research suggests that closer relationships with parents (6,7) and siblings (8) may evolve as youth transition into college and adulthood (9,10). As youth become more independent, family and social network influences begin to shift and may serve different roles, as compared to that which they served in childhood and adolescence. Much additional research is needed to understand the evolving social influences in the emerging adult years and the extent to which this may influence health behavior patterns. Given the overall paucity of research in this area, more work is needed to understand better how the unique characteristics of emerging adulthood may contribute to establishing long-term behavioral patterns and the possible vulnerability of this life stage to various influences. The transition from adolescence to adulthood and the determinants of eating and physical activity is understudied. However, national trend data suggest that this is a risky period for the development of obesity, as well as unhealthy diet and physical activity practices. Weight gain. Research from national surveys and longitudinal cohorts has identified the transition between adolescence and adulthood as a period of increased risk for excess weight gain. Nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System indicated that from 1991 to 1998, the greatest magnitude of increase in obesity prevalence was among 18–29-year olds (increasing

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  1. Storer J, Cychosz C, Anderson D. Wellness behaviors, social identities and health promotion. Am J Health Behav 1997;21:260-268.
  2. Gordon-Larsen P, Adair LS, Nelson MC, Popkin BM. Five-year obesity incidence in the transition period between adolescence and adulthood. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:569-575.
  3. Taco Bell ® . Fourthmeal stays up with the late night crowd [press release]. Irvine, CA. <http://www.tacobell.com/default. asp?sec=press_releases> (2006). Accessed 24 January 2008.
  4. Neumark-Sztainer D, Wall M, Guo J et al. Obesity, disordered eating, and eating disorders in a longitudinal study of adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc 2006;106:559-568.

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Authors
Nelson, M. C., Story, M., Larson, N. I., Neumark‐Sztainer, D., & Lytle, L. A.
Affiliations
University of Minnesota (US)
ORCID
Venue
Obesity
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-10
Volume
16
Issue
10
Pages
2205-2211
ISSN
  • 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-739X
DOI
10.1038/oby.2008.365
OpenAlex
W2073388463
Cited by
1,314
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 84 · 2025: 73 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 111 · 2021: 112 · 2020: 122 · 2019: 86 · 2018: 106 · 2017: 88 · 2016: 94 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 38
FWCI
13.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1436 d)
Locations
  • Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
emerging adulthood, young adults, obesity prevention, diet, physical activity, food marketing, beverage marketing, higher education institutions, health promotion, health behavior change, identity construction, self-efficacy, transition from adolescence to young adulthood, chronic disease risk, life stage transitions, autonomy and independence, social support systems, interpersonal influence
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Food Preferences, Health Promotion, Humans, Life Style, Obesity, Student Health Services, Students, Universities, Weight Gain, Health Behavior, Exercise, Risk Reduction Behavior, Marketing

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