DIETARYDEFI

-TOPICS—

"Adolescents and 'Iheir Food: Changes 'Ihrough . Nutrition Education and School Lunch" is the title of the Nutritim Study cmducted by Professors Doris Andersm and Estelle leddin of the Department of Hate Econanics.

The study deals with Sd‘lOOl 1111011 and nutriticn education as influences on adolescent food

behaviour. The

phase was carried out in January and February of 1976 in six jmior high schools in the province.

Students carpleted a series of questimnaires cn personal and family backgromd, nutritim knowledge and attitudes, food preferences and feed intake during the school day. Of the 938 students surveyed, 45 per cent were inGradeBandSSpercent were in Grade 9. 'Ihe median age was 14 years. 'Jhere were slightly more males than females.

'pr experinental schools selected, one \ receiving a specific nutritim educaticn unit, and the other receiving the sane nutrition education unit in combination with a sdioo lunch program. ' - 'Ihe " nutrition education program emphasized consrmption of milk, fruits and vegetables as these were the problem areas identified by a preliminary study ccn- ducted in 1975.

'Ihe study investigated the adequacy of the dietary intake of, the students during the sd'iool day. Analysis of the food intakesrevealed that the intake of calories, calciun iron and vitamin C were low. Approximately cne- third of the students had caloric intakes in the inadequate category, "(less than the two-thirds of the recommended anomts for this age group.) Fifty- eight percent of the males and forty-seven percent of the females had calcium intakes in the saneg category. '

A dietary deficit of iron in females was apparent:

57 percent receiving ’ . inadequate amounts, com- _ paredto 27 percent for the males. 'Jhe mean intake of vitamin C, although within

distorteNd bl}! anaJR e)!tre1re cases and does not reflect the finding that 44 percent of the nales and 30 percent

of the females had in- adequate intakes.

An overall evaluatim reveals the poor dietary intake of the population studied, with 75 percent of both males and females having diets rated as in— adequate, (with an inadequate intake of one or more - nutrients). Study findings thus far indicate that intervention by the carbined

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S ARE OBSERVED

-N STUDY

nutrition education and school lunch program did effect an increase in milk caisunption, and a trend toward J'errovenent in neal pattern scores. -

- Other aspects of food behaviour under study are nutritim Imcwledge, hmger, peer group influence, body image and attitudes toward food and nutrition.

Initial reports of the study now conpleted are: Report 1, Findings and Inplications

of Preliminary Study; Report 2, Conceptual Framework and

. Director'of Recruiting National Defence Headquarters.

4.

Methodology; and Report 3, Situational and Behavioural Characteristics of Students.

'Ihese are the first of a series of 12 reports to be released in the spring. In addition, a slide-tape presentation has been prepared and is available to students, parents, teadiers and interested

groups—

'Ihe study has been cm— ’ ducted with financial support of Health and Welfare Canada, Health Programs Branch.

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