School-based dietary intervention to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among adolescence in rural area
Naglaa M EL Mokadem and Eman A Shokr
Background: Obesity and overweight are among the fastest growing health issues for children and adolescents, creating health problems later in life and producing an economic burden on the health systems. Unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle among adolescents is considered as a risk factor for nutrition-related diseases in adulthood. Educational intervention for change in the behavioral for school adolescents can help to develop a better understanding and consumption of the proper food.
Aim: To examine the effectiveness of school-based dietary intervention on healthy eating habits and physical activity among adolescences in a rural area.
Design:A quasi experimental (pre/post-test) design was used.
Setting:The study was conducted at Tala City and Zenara Village at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.
Sample: A convenience sample of 347 secondary school adolescent students was selected. The selected schools were located in the rural areas of Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.
Tools: Semi-structured Demographic Sheet; The Diet Self Efficacy Scale and Healthy Eating Active Living Youth Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean score of the participants’ dietary self-efficacy post intervention. While, there was no statistically significant difference in the participants’ body mass index and healthy eating habits and physical efficiency post intervention compared to pre intervention.
Recommendations: The school authorities and government should pay more attention toward regulating food availability in schools, restricting access to sugary soft drinks and provide the needed actions against the consumption of such foods in schools and increasing the availability of healthy alternatives such as fresh fruit and vegetable options and involving parents in the school-based interventions to help adolescents improve their diet quality.
Naglaa M EL Mokadem, Eman A Shokr. School-based dietary intervention to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among adolescence in rural area. Int J Adv Res Nurs 2021;4(1):349-355. DOI: 10.33545/nursing.2021.v4.i1.E.172
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