Benefits of a Flexitarian Diet: Educating College Students of Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce the Risk of Developing Breast and Prostate Cancer

Department

Family and Consumer Sciences

Authors

Abbigail Pace, Western Kentucky UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Practicing the Flexitarian diet, a plant-based diet, in conjunction with physical activity can promote a lifestyle consistent with the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for reducing risks of breast and prostate cancer (American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention, 2015) College students were assessed on knowledge of the relationship between diet and cancer risk prior to and after accessing information on the American Institute of Cancer Research site or the WKU Flexitarian Pinterest Page. Participants were recruited from the National Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council memberships and the International students at Western Kentucky University. Participants completed a three-phase survey to identify current lifestyle and willingness to modify lifestyle behaviors related to nutrition and cancer. A majority of participants that accessed The WKU Flexitarian Pinterest page or the American Institute of Cancer Research Diet and Cancer Page reported willingness to make a least one lifestyle modification related to diet and cancer risk (91% of participants who accessed the WKU Flexitarian Pinterest Page and 93% of participants that accessed the American Institute of Cancer Research Page).

Advisor(s) or Committee Chair

Dr. Margaret Cook-Newell

Disciplines

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Human and Clinical Nutrition | Medical Nutrition | Oncology

Recommended Citation

Pace, Abbigail, "Benefits of a Flexitarian Diet: Educating College Students of Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce the Risk of Developing Breast and Prostate Cancer" (2016). Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 650.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/650