Eating location and overweight among US college students

College students may be at risk for overweight (body mass index <=25 kg/m2). Overweight, fruit/vegetable intake and soda consumption were examined by frequency of eating (daily, weekly, monthly, rarely or never) in different locations in a cross-sectional sample of students (n=15,624; N=82 colleges). Logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, age, class, high school BMI, and physical activity. Twenty-eight% were overweight, 23% consumed 2+ sodas, and 21% consumed 5+ fruit/vegetable servings per day. Many students ate daily/several times per week at home (55%) or the school cafeteria (46%). Fewer students frequently ate at other locations, including on-campus fast food (24%), off-campus fast food (20%), take-out restaurants (18%), parent/relative's house (17%), dine-in restaurants (16%) or friend's house (7%). Overweight was more common among students who frequently ate fast food off-campus [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.12, 1.30] or on-campus (AOR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.17], but not by other eating locations. Students who frequently ate on-campus fast food, off-campus fast food and in take-out restaurants were more likely, and those who ate at home or a friend's house were less likely, to consume 2+ daily sodas. Students who frequently ate at the school cafeteria, home, a friend's house or a dine-in restaurant were more likely, while those who ate on- or off-campus fast food were less likely, to eat 5+ daily fruit/vegetable servings. Eating fast food on- and off-campus less frequently may prevent overweight and improve diet among college students.