Objectives: To compare eating behaviors and body mass index among adolescents with Healthy People 2000 Nutrition Health Status and Risk Reduction Objectives and to examine psychosocial factors associated with eating behaviors. Design: Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) is among the largest and most comprehensive study aimed at assessing eating behaviors and psychosocial factors associated with eating behaviors among adolescents. The study included three components: 1) focus groups with 141 adolescents; 2) surveys and anthropometric measurements with 4754 adolescents; 3) telephone interviews with 913 parents. Results: Focus group discussions have suggested that key factors influencing adolescents’ eating behaviors include: hunger and food cravings, appeal of food, time considerations, convenience of food, and food availability. Preliminary analyses of survey data indicate that target goal for obesity has not been reached. Among certain ethnic/racial groups, over 30% of the adolescents were overweight. Significant ethnic/racial differences in food intake patterns were also apparent. Conclusions: Unhealthful eating behaviors and weight-related disorders among adolescents are major public health issues. A greater understanding of the factors influencing these behaviors/conditions is essential to improving the nutritional health status of adolescents and to developing more effective interventions.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to compare BMI levels and eating patterns among adolescents with those targeted in the Year 2000 Health Objectives. 2. Participants will be able to identify some of the key factors influencing eating patterns of adolescents that need to be addressed in intervention programs with youth
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Nutrition
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.