Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice on Campus: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: This study identified barriers students face that limit their ability to engage in health behaviors on campus and to determine changes needed to make students' default decisions healthy. Methods: Focus groups (N = 53) were conducted at a large diverse university. Results: Interpersonal and intrapersonal barriers including lack of time were the most prevalent themes associated with activity challenges. Environmental factors such as food cost were the significant barriers to eating-well. Conclusions: College and university administrators are in the position to create campus environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice. By doing so, they lay the foundation necessary for sound individual behaviors that lead to the physical, mental and academic health of their students.