scholarly journals Building healthy eating habits in childhood: a study of the attitudes, knowledge and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Malaysia

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazi Enamul Hoque ◽  
Megat Ahmad Kamaluddin ◽  
Ahmad Zabidi Abdul Razak ◽  
Afiq Athari Abdul Wahid

BackgroundOverweight and obesity have increased rapidly in incidence to become a global issue today. Overweight and obesity problems are significantly linked to unhealthy dietary patterns, physical inactivity and misperception of body image. This study aimed to determine whether Malaysian children build healthy eating habits from childhood.MethodsA survey on eating habits was conducted among primary school students in standards 4 to 6 in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The findings of the study were reported in the form of descriptive statistics involving frequencies and percentages. Data from 400 respondents were analyzed.ResultsOur findings showed that the students understood the definition of healthy food and the types of food that are considered healthy. Although the students knew that food such as deep-fried drumsticks and hamburgers contain a high amount of saturated fat and cholesterol, these foods were still consumed by them. There was also a high consumption of foods that are fried and contain sugar, salt and saturated fat. In choosing food, two major factors contributed to the students’ decisions: cleanliness (65.8%) and the preference of their parents (12.3%).DiscussionOur findings indicate that by implementing the Integrated School Health Program (ISHP) properly, students’ eating habits can be improved by creating a school with a healthy environment.

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1198-1202
Author(s):  
Elaine Fernanda Dornelas de Souza ◽  
Maria do Carmo Souza Soares ◽  
Sueyla Ferreira da Silva dos Santos ◽  
Thais Reis Silva de Paulo ◽  
Maria Verinize Santos Brandão ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: This experience report presents the construction of the theoretical and logic model for intervention to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits of the public schools students in the city of Parintins, Amazonas, Brazil. Method: We carried out a theoretical research and also a documentary research on the School Health Program (PSE - Programa Saúde na Escola) on the national and local level, in addition to meetings with the PSE management committee for strategic planning of the actions. Result: The municipality had no systematic structure of health practices at school. A theoretical and logical model that involved prerogatives of practice from the management of the municipality in PSE was developed. Actions to promote physical activity and healthy nutrition of primary and secondary school students were planned and promoted in schools of the PSE. Final considerations: Thus, the collective construction of this proposal contributed to the research of multi-sectoral practices related to the PSE principles and strategies, considering the particularities of the Lower Amazon context.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Martins ◽  
G. Bruno

This project focuses on the theme of healthy eating habits and is being developed by students from class 8.ºD and under the scope of our school’s social inclusion program. Two questionnaires were applied, one on food and the other on hydration in a school environment, to all classes in the 7th grade and class 8.ºD. In order to alert the school community to the needfor good hydration, the class 8.ºD organized a tasting session on flavoured water. In collaboration with the project, the nurse from the school health centre gave two lectures on healthy eating habits. Schools’ shutdown due to Covid-19 pandemic did not allow more sessions to be held, nor to share with the community the questionnaires’ results. Nevertheless, one of the projects main goals is to implement in the school flavoured water dispensers, to encourage students to drink more water.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Raquel Gómez-Alpízar ◽  
Ana Rocío González-Urrutia ◽  
Ofelia Flores-Castro ◽  
Xinia Fernández-Rojas

Introduction: The Preschool Cycle is a period of changes in nutritional status and eating behavior, constituting a fundamental stage for the development of healthy eating habits, where the family plays a major role. Objective: Identify the main barriers and facilitators for healthy eating in preschool age, with the purpose of designing strategies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted under a mixed approach, with a descriptive and transversal type. Sixty parents or caregivers of preschool children who were part of the model during 2014 at the Mariano Cortés School (urban) and Canada School (rural), completed the questionnaire and twenty-five participated in the focus groups (one focus group in each school). Results: The barriers that the parents and caregivers faced daily included: food rejection by the child, the influence of peers and even the attitudes of adults who share with the child while eating. The facilitators that encourage healthy eating in this stage of life were: establish clear rules when eating, offer a variety of foods and explain to the child the importance of eating fruits and vegetables in a simple way. Conclusion: The barriers and facilitators to promote healthy eating in this stage of the lifetime, must be include as part of future strategies for the prevention of childhood obesity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia Maria Ribeiro de Vasconcelos ◽  
Eliane Maria Ribeiro de Vasconcelos ◽  
Maria Gorete Lucena de Vasconcelos ◽  
Suelen Brito de Azevedo ◽  
Francisca Márcia Pereira Linhares ◽  
...  

RESUMOObjetivo: identificar os tipos de intervenções educativas na promoção da alimentação saudável em escolares. Método: revisão integrativa, entre janeiro de 2010 a maio de 2018, em que se selecionaram artigos em português, inglês e espanhol nas bases de dados PUBMED/MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF, SCOPUS, CUIDEN, COCHRANE, WEB of SCIENCE, IBECS e na biblioteca virtual SciELO. Categorizaram-se os dados em relação aos tipos de tecnologias e às temáticas abordadas. Resultados: constituiu-se a amostra por 17 artigos, sendo que cinco abordavam práticas alimentares saudáveis; quatro, prevenção do excesso de peso e obesidade e oito, segurança alimentar e nutricional. Todos utilizaram as tecnologias leve e leve-dura e seis, a tecnologia dura. Diversas intervenções educativas foram utilizadas. Conclusão: para a realização de intervenções educativas, utilizam-se diversos recursos, dos mais simples aos mais sofisticados, e sua efetividade dar-se-á a partir do envolvimento da comunidade escolar e pela participação efetiva dos pais ou responsáveis. Pode-se considerar o ambiente escolar o local importante para a promoção da saúde a partir da aquisição de bons hábitos alimentares. Descritores: Educação em Saúde; Educação Alimentar e Nutricional; Serviços de Saúde Escolar; Hábitos Alimentares; Materiais de Ensino; Criança.ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the types of educational interventions in promoting healthy eating in schoolchildren. Method: integrative review between January 2010 and May 2018, in which articles were selected in Portuguese, English and Spanish in the databases PUBMED / MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF, SCOPUS, CUIDEN, COCHRANE, WEB of SCIENCE, IBECS and in the SciELO virtual library. Data was categorized in relation to the types of technologies and the topics addressed. Results: the sample was constituted by 17 articles, five of which dealt with healthy eating practices; four, prevention of overweight and obesity and eight, food and nutritional security. All have used lightweight and light-hard technologies and six, hard technology. Several educational interventions were used. Conclusion: in order to carry out educational interventions, various resources are used, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, and their effectiveness will be based on the involvement of the school community and the effective participation of parents or guardians. The school environment can be considered as the important place for promoting health through the acquisition of good eating habits. Descriptors: Health Education; Food and Nutrition Education; School Health Services; Food Habits; Teaching Materials; Child.RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar los tipos de intervenciones educativas en la promoción de la alimentación sana en los escolares. Método: revisión integradora, desde enero 2010 hasta mayo 2018, en que se seleccionaron artículos en portugués, Inglés y Español, en las bases de datos PubMed / MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF, SCOPUS, CUIDEN, Cochrane, Web of Science, y IBECS en la biblioteca virtual SciELO. Se categorizaron los datos en relación a los tipos de tecnologías y las temáticas abordadas. Resultados: se constituyó la muestra por 17 artículos, siendo que cinco abordaban prácticas alimentarias saludables, cuatro, prevención del exceso de peso y obesidad y, ocho, seguridad alimentaria y nutricional. Todos utilizaron las tecnologías leviana y leviana-dura. Se utilizaron diversas intervenciones educativas. Conclusión: para la realización de intervenciones educativas, se utilizan diversos recursos, de lo más simple a los más sofisticados, y su efectividad se dará a partir del involucramiento de la comunidad escolar y por la participación efectiva de los padres o responsables. Se puede considerar el ambiente escolar el lugar importante para la promoción de la salud a partir de la adquisición de buenos hábitos alimentarios. Descriptores: Educación em Salud; Serviços de Saúde Escolar; Educación Alimentaria y Nutricional; Hábitos Alimenticios; Materiales de Enseñanza; Niño.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 40-44
Author(s):  
Dorota Hraca

Introduction: Health-oriented behaviours are actions taken to promote health and to prevent illness. These are behaviours whose purpose is to improve the environment around the human being, and thus to create conditions conducive to healthy living. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to investigate the real patterns of health-oriented behaviours among high school students and to evaluate these behaviours in students and teachers. Material and methods: The study included 100 students (16-19 years of age) attending a general secondary school and 30 teachers employed at the same institution. The author chose to conduct a diagnostic survey with the use of a questionnaire. The research tool used in the study was a questionnaire prepared by the author, containing 12 questions, addressed to both students and teachers. The questionnaire was based on four research themes: eating habits of high school students, frequency with which they undertake physical activity, manners of dealing with stress, and ways in which they affect the behavior of their peers. Results: The results of the study indicate that young people of today are more aware of health-oriented behaviors. Studies have shown that 92% (92) of students are physically active, 77% (77) consider they have healthy eating habits; 90% (90) of the students stated that they cope with stress by listening to music and taking part in sport. The vast majority (as many as 84% (84)), think that stimulants are very harmful. The teachers considered that most of the students have healthy habits. Conclusions: The knowledge of high school students about health-oriented behaviors is satisfactory. Most students put this knowledge into practice through physical activity, healthy eating, avoiding drugs, and finding ways to cope with stress. According to the teachers, students are fully aware of positive and negative phenomena related to health and of how they can affect them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (39) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Funda ÖZPULAT ◽  
Nazmi BİLİR

This research was aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention on healthy eating habits and physical activity levels of high school students. The research was conducted in two stages with a total of 800 students from 4 schools between the dates of 25.12.2016 - 31.05.2017. In the first stage, a questionnaire form consisting of 21 questions was applied to all students, and their height and weight measurements were collected. In the second stage, the planned educational intervention was implemented (n = 490) and the height and weight measurements of the students were collected again. The perception of students' body structures changed according to their genders before the intervention (p=.006), however, after the intervention, there was no correlation between the gender of students and their perception of their bodies. In addition, it was determined that the rate of those who stated that they, generally, had a healthy diet after the intervention increased from 38.8% to 52.2%. According to the results obtained from the research conducted, female students, at higher rates, perceive their weight incorrectly than male students. The intervention had little effect on the BMI of the students, while the proportion of those who had a healthy diet, and those who were physically active had increased. Based on the results obtained, it can be said that increasing the number of intervention programs and studies targeting adolescents will be effective in achieving positive results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Giacalone ◽  
Michael Bom Frøst ◽  
Celia Rodríguez-Pérez

This paper focuses on the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the dietary habits of adult Danes. Two aspects were specifically considered: 1) reported changes in intake of specific food categories and 2) effect on healthy eating, operationalized as adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDAS score). Respondents (N = 2,462) completed a 44-items self-administered online survey designed for the assessment of their socio-demographic characteristics, general food habits, and consumption frequency of selected foods (mainly related to the MedDiet) during the lockdown. The data indicated that the lockdown has affected dietary habits of adult Danes to a relatively limited degree. The most important findings were that a substantial proportion of respondents (≥28%) reported eating more, snacking more, exercising less, and gaining weight during the lockdown. Results could be linked to the amount of time spent at home (e.g., a higher cooking frequency) a higher degree of emotional eating during the lockdown (e.g., a higher consumption of pastries and alcohol). Women were generally affected to a higher degree than men. Additionally, dietary changes during the lockdown to a certain degree reflected pre-existing (un)healthy eating habits, as positive health outcomes were observed in respondents with a high MEDAS score and negative outcomes (e.g., weight gain and higher intakes of pastries and carbonated beverages) were associated with respondents with a low MEDAS score. These changes, if sustained long-term, are potentially concerning from a public health perspective, especially given that more than half of the respondents were characterized by a low adherence to the MedDiet.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Gonzalez-Ramirez ◽  
Angela Cejudo-Lopez ◽  
Mauricio Lozano-Navarrete ◽  
Elena Salamero Sánchez-Gabriel ◽  
Alfonso Torres-Bengoa ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Mobile applications are one of the fastest growing technology fields in recent years. The rise of smartphones and the special concern about food in the population, as well as the increase in overweight and obesity and their association with non-communicable diseases, makes it necessary to combine both technology and nutrition disciplines to promote healthy eating patterns. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study was to design and develop a tailored nutrition application to promote healthy eating habits as a tool to support the primary care Dietetic Counselling Program. Additionally, usability study was also performed. METHODS Three focus groups were conducted with 15 primary health care professionals (Family Doctors, Nurses and Public Health and Health Promotion Technicians), Professors and Lectures of Nutrition and Food, expert users (students of the Pharmacy Degree) and Telecommunications Engineers to decide the app design and content. Additionally, for the general and feedback message design a reference model was developed bases in the scientific literature. To evaluate the relevance potential usability, acceptability, credibility, and comprehensibility of the information and interface of the app a pilot testing in a real-life environment with potential users and Health Care Professionals was carried out in four focus groups organized in four different primary health care centers. Participants included forty-two Health Professionals and users. RESULTS The SAlBi educa app developed includes an online dietary record, a self-monitoring tool to evaluate dietary patterns, general and feedback messages and traditional Mediterranean recipe examples. The reference message model included the following characteristics: length of approximately 160 characters, frequency of 1-4 messages/week, simple tone y language, personalized with the user's name and empathic to allow user empowering. More than 60 general and 65 feedback messages were designed following this model. Usability study showed that 91.7% of the participants find SAlBi educa stimulating and easy to use (87.1% of volunteers). It is worth noting that 92.3% of volunteers stated that both general and tailored nutrition messages are clear, useful (100%), relevant (97.4%) and the 86.1% agree that they have the potential to persuade people to improve their diet and physical activity. A total of 95.0% of participants would use SAlBi educa in the future and recommend. CONCLUSIONS SAlBi educa is an innovative nutritional education tool developed based on scientific evidence that has the potential to become an effective solution for supporting Nutrition Counseling in primary health care.


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