Original scientific paper
Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Habits Survey in High School Population
Dragana Milosavljević
; »J. J. Strossmayer« University, Faculty of Food Technology, Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Osijek, Croatia
Milena L. Mandić
; »J. J. Strossmayer« University, Faculty of Food Technology, Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Osijek, Croatia
Ines Banjari
; »J. J. Strossmayer« University, Faculty of Food Technology, Department of Food and Nutrition Research, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
During adolescence, young people are in a sensitive transition period when they gradually take over the responsibility
for their own eating habits, health attitudes and behaviours and create lifelong habits so it is essential that they adopt
healthy habits according to dietary recommendations. Knowledge is one of the factors necessary for the changes in dietary
habits. The objective of this study was to gain insight in nutritional knowledge and dietary habits of adolescents. The
sample included 117 adolescents aged 17–19 years. Self-administered, anonymous questionnaire, representing modifi ed
version of General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess general characteristics, nutritional knowledge
about nutrients, dietary recommendations, sources of nutrients, diet-disease relationship, and dietary habits. Less than
one third of adolescents showed satisfactory knowledge, but boys, adolescents from rural environment and overweight
adolescents showed signifi cantly lower knowledge unlike others. Meal skipping was present habit, especially for breakfast
consumption. Especially high consumption of meat and meat products was noted for boys, while fruit and vegetables for
girls. Fad dieting was quite practiced habit, especially in girls and overweight adolescents. Among girls, high consumption
of sweets was confi rmed, while boys showed high consumption of soft drinks. Television presents the main source of information
about nutrition for adolescents. Collected data shows similarity with other research in Europe and North America
that confi rm strong infl uence of globalization and fast spread of unhealthy habits. The results pointed out weak spots in
nutritional knowledge and revealed unhealthy eating habits. This information is necessary for the development of new
approaches to modulate their knowledge and consequently act on their behaviour. Behavioral changes would include
higher number of meals per day, regular breakfast consumption, higher intake of fi sh, lower consumption of meat and meat
products, sweetened foods and drinks etc. The fi nal outcome would result in longterm positive impact on dietary habits.
Keywords
adolescents; nutritional knowledge; dietary habits; recommendations; meal skipping; fad dieting; sources of information; sweets; soft drinks
Hrčak ID:
147696
URI
Publication date:
30.3.2015.
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