scholarly journals Attitudes, norms and behaviors enhancing unhealthy food choices of high school students in Armenia

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L A Aslanyan ◽  
A D Demirchyan
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
School Students ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
School Cafeterias

Abstract Background Negative attitudes towards healthy eating behaviors are common among school-aged children. Given the scarcity of studies investigating eating behaviors among adolescents in Armenia, the current study sought to explore eating behaviors among high school students and assess the attitudes, norms and behaviors enhancing unhealthy food choices among them. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was applied as a theoretical framework. Methods A qualitative study with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews was conducted using semi structured interview guides developed based on TPB framework. The study covered high school students aged 15-18 years old, their parents, teachers and school canteen staff, residing in cities and villages of Shirak province, Armenia. Direct content analysis with deductive approach was used for data analysis. Results The most preferred foods by the adolescents were fast foods, sweets, salads and sugar sweetened beverages. Taste was the most powerful attitudinal factor influencing their food choices. Friends and advertisements were the main role models affecting adolescents’ eating behaviors. Knowledge on unhealthy food choices and the consequences of unhealthy diet on one’s health were adequate among all participants, but unlike rural participants, this factor did not result in healthy eating behavior among urban participants. Lack of time, high cost of food, seasonal changes in food availability, limited food choices in school canteens and low coverage of schools with canteens, especially in the villages, had considerable impact on adolescent’s food choices. Conclusions According to the study results, most of the TPB constructs played role in shaping unhealthy eating behaviors among adolescents. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to conduct social advertising of healthy food choices and healthy eating behaviors among adolescents, empower school cafeterias and increase the coverage of schools with cafeterias. Key messages In Armenia, adolescents’ eating behaviors are mainly influenced by taste, availability, and affordability of food choices, eating behavior of peers and advertisements. Government needs to increase the coverage of schools with cafeterias and empower school cafeterias, so that they suggest healthy, tasty and affordable food choices.

Impact of an intuitive eating education program on high school students’ eating attitudes

2015 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Healy ◽  
Elana Joram ◽  
Oksana Matvienko ◽  
Suzanne Woolf ◽  
Kimberly Knesting
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Eating Attitudes ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Intuitive Eating ◽  
School Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
K 12

Purpose – There is a growing need for school-based nutritional educational programs that promote healthy eating attitudes without increasing an unhealthy focus on restrictive eating or promoting a poor body image. Research suggests that intuitive eating (IE) approaches, which encourage individuals to focus on internal body signals as a guide for eating, have had a positive impact on eating-related psychological outcomes in adults. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects an IE education program on the eating attitudes of high school students. Design/methodology/approach – In a quasi-experimental study, 48 high school students (30 females) in a Midwest town in the USA received instruction on IE or a comparison program over seven days during health classes. Repeated measures analyses of covariance were conducted to examine changes in eating attitudes in sexes across conditions. Findings – Students who received the IE program made significantly greater gains in overall positive eating attitudes on the Intuitive Eating Scale than students in the comparison program (p=0.045), as well as on the Unconditional Permission to Eat subscale (p=0.02). There were no significant effects of sex on any of the analyses. Research limitations/implications – Because of the relatively small sample size and short duration of the program, the results should be generalized with caution. Practical implications – The results suggest that IE instruction may encourage the development of healthy eating attitudes in high school students, and health teachers may wish to consider including IE instruction in the health curriculum. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine the effectiveness of an IE program in a K-12 population, with instruction provided in the context of the school. The results are promising and suggest that this may be a fruitful area for future research in nutrition education.

scholarly journals Food choices of Mexican high‐school students deviate from their perceptions of food healthiness

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Rodriguez ◽  
Salvador Villalpando ◽  
Berenice Gaona ◽  
Edward A. Frongillo ◽  
Juan A. Rivera
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
School Students

scholarly journals Analysis on the Relationship between Eating Behavior, Physical Activities and Youth Obesity: Based on the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey for High School Students in 2016~2018

Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Seung-Hoo Lee ◽  
Jong-Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Youth Risk Behavior Survey ◽  
School Students ◽  
Obesity Rate ◽  
Youth Risk Behavior ◽  
Youth Obesity

In this study, a total of 94,511 surveys were used for the analysis, using raw data from the recent 3 years (2016–2018) of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) to compare differences in obesity rates based on eating behavior and physical activity among high school students. The cross-analysis and logistic regression were performed in the composite sample design using the SPSS 25.0 statistical package. The results are as follows. First, the more physical activity male students have, the lower the obesity rate. Female students, however, showed a minor difference. Second, the group that drinks the soda was 1158 times more likely to be obese than the group that does not drink the soda, and third, the group that eats the fast food was 1129 times more likely to be obese than the group that does not. Fourth, students belonging to male or female schools had a 1230 times higher obesity rate than coeducational students. Fifth, the obesity rate was 1150 times higher for second grade and 1263 times higher for third grade compared to the first grade. Finally, there was no significant difference related to the nutrition education. It is suggested that, to fight youth obesity in high school students, institutions need to raise public awareness of this problem through information campaigns aimed at improving and fostering potentially existing educational measures.

scholarly journals Investigating High School Students’ Attitudes Towards, Beliefs about and Behaviors Associated with Water and Energy Saving

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Osman Cimen ◽  
Mehmet Yılmaz ◽  
Merve Çolak
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
School Students ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Students Attitudes

<p>Schools play a critical role in raising awareness in students of the importance of water conservation and environmental protection. Based on this premise, the current study aims to investigate high school students’ attitudes towards, beliefs about and behaviors associated with water and energy saving. The research was designed as survey model and involved a study group consisting of 102 high school students who attended schools in Ankara, Turkey during the 2014 Spring Semester. The <em>Water and Energy Saving Attitude, Belief, and Behavior Scale</em>, which was developed by this study’s researchers, was used as the data collection tool. The data obtained were analyzed with t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation, using the SPSS 20 software package. Results from the research showed that high school students’ beliefs about water and energy saving significantly differed according to gender, grade level, the presence of an environmentally aware family member and concern levels toward the environment, and that the students’ attitudes significantly differed in terms of the presence of an environmentally aware family member and concern level towards the environment. No significant relationship was found, however, between the high school students’ behaviors and attitudes towards water and energy saving and between their behaviors and beliefs, while a mid-level significant relationship was determined between high school students’ beliefs and attitudes.</p>

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