The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which children from South Carolina meet the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations, and to quantitatively assess, using the Social Cognitive Theory, selected environmental and personal factors that affect children's dietary behaviors. The survey was part of the 1997 Nutrition Education and Training Assessment Plan administered by the Office of School Food Services and Nutrition. Subjects were eight graders (n=1262) randomly selected from among all public schools in the state. Percentages of children meeting the recommendations for food intake according to demographic characteristics were assessed. Multiple analysis modeling was conducted to assess the hypothesized relationship between eleven independent variables (four demographic and seven psychosocial) and children's dietary behavior. The percentage of children meeting the recommendation for each food group ranged from 35% for meat, to 62% for vegetables. Fifteen percent of children did not meet any recommendation, and 7% met all recommendations. White children were more likely than black to meet the recommendations for fruits, vegetables, and diary, and girls were more likely to meet the recommendations for meat and diary than boys (p<.05). Results of model building revealed that nutrition knowledge, positive attitudes toward nutrition, eating concerns, modeling and sources of nutrition information were predictors of children's dietary behavior. This study indicates that many South Carolina students have adopted an inadequate dietary profile that can place them at risk. SCT components are useful in the investigation of dietary behavior and offer a basis for primary interventions.
Learning Objectives: To assess if the nutritional behavior of children is cnsistent with the nutritional goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and to identify variables associated with children's dietary practices
Keywords: Child/Adolescent, Dietary Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.