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Objective: Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome are increasingly relevant health problems for United States (US) college-aged students and their family members. This study's aim was to determine the extent to which these chronic conditions were covered in leading college-level personal health textbooks and to what degree the books emphasized the preventive steps students can take to promote their health and minimize development or worsening of these conditions. Design: A convenience sample of 10 leading college-level personal health textbooks was used in this cross-sectional study. Setting: Textbooks selected for analysis are frequently used in introductory personal health courses on college campuses across the US. Method: Textbooks were coded for level of coverage for select criteria that included risk factors, definitions, prevalence among college-aged youth, African Americans, and Hispanics, serious consequences associated with unmanaged type 2 diabetes, presence of self-assessment tool, prediabetes' and metabolic syndrome's association with type 2 diabetes, prevention strategies, student portrayals, and messages geared towards students living with these conditions. Results: Exemplary coverage of information related to diabetes, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome was uncommon for the following criteria: prevalence among African Americans and Hispanics, depiction of a student with diabetes or prediabetes, prevalence of messages geared toward readers with these conditions, and in-depth discussion of prevention strategies. Conclusion: More thorough coverage in personal health textbooks is necessary given the rising prevalence of these health problems in young adults, the positive impact of healthy lifestyle choices, and the formal opportunity for learning presented through college personal health courses.

Globalization has had an impact on many systems that affect daily living. Internationally, food systems have undergone substantial changes including increased availability and affordability of processed foods and an unprecedented inundation of the food supply with low-cost caloric sweeteners and more efficient production of fatty oils. These changes in the food supply have had an impact on the nutritional status of many by contributing to a paradoxical increase in obesity in countries with historically high rates of malnutrition. This higher global prevalence of obesity has been implicated in the increase in leading causes of death, namely diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This paper includes an introductory section highlighting the notable effects of globalization on our food systems followed by a more in-depth discussion of obesity, diabetes, and CVD, and its related conditions considered as significant health consequences of these changes. To address the pervasive nature of these problems, several international health promotion initiatives are discussed and organized using the five action means outlined in the World Health Organization's Ottowa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, 2013). We conclude by highlighting the important contribution health educators can make toward improving health status in their communities by moving beyond the traditional approach of individual behavior change and becoming more proactive initiators of social change. Strategies for carrying out this charge include the assessment of social and environmental health determinants on the population level in concert with mobilizing and engaging community stakeholders through culturally appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]