Nutrition promotion approaches preferred by Australian adolescents attending schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundLinks between socioeconomic disadvantage and unhealthy eating behaviours among adolescents are well established. Little is known about strategies that might support healthy eating among this target group. This study aimed to identify potential strategies and preferred dissemination methods that could be employed in nutrition promotion initiatives focussed on improving eating behaviours among socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in 2011 among 22 adolescents (12–15 years) recruited from secondary schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Victoria, Australia.ResultsStrategies suggested by adolescents to support healthy eating included increasing awareness about healthy eating; greater cooking involvement; greater parental and peer support; frequent family meal participation; greater parental and peer role-modelling of healthy eating; increased availability of healthy foods and decreased availability of unhealthy foods in homes and schools. Adolescents preferred electronic media, adolescent-specific recipe books, and school-based methods for distributing nutrition promotion messages and strategies.ConclusionsA number of suggested strategies and methods identified in the present investigation have been employed with success in previous nutrition promotion interventions targeting socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents. The present study also contributes novel insights into potential strategies and methods that could be employed in initiatives aiming to improve eating behaviours in this vulnerable group, and particularly highlights the importance of incorporating strategies involving parents and modifying the home food environment.

Barriers to Nutrition Promotion in Private Secondary Schools in Kolkata, India: Perspectives of Parents and Teachers

“…Indeed, empirical evidence from both developed [ 33 , 34 ] and developing economies including India [ 13 , 35 , 36 ] suggests that the palatability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods over nutritious foods is highly appealing and this leads to its excessive consumption among adolescents. Since, such excessive consumption of nutrient-poor foods can result in overweight and obesity [ 4 , 6 ], Indian schools should supply palatable nutritious foods to students, as recommended in the past [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Parents’ and Teachers’ Views of Food Environments and Policies in Indian Private Secondary Schools

“…Therefore, the respondents proposed that schools should supply tasty nutritious foods at economical prices. Studies of Nordic [ 58 ] and Australian adolescents [ 59 ] have also suggested that increased accessibility of tasty nutritious meals and snacks at a low cost could help them to make healthier food choices. Taste is an important determinant of food choice [ 60 ].…”

Environmental factors of food literacy in Australian high schools: views of home economics teachers

“…Currently, home economics is compulsory only in Year 7 or 8 in Australian high schools which is not enough for developing sustainable food skills such as food preparation. Australian adolescents have been reported as recognising the importance of developing food preparation skills through home economics and indicated that high school curriculum should provide them with this opportunity (Stephens et al, 2015). A study by Tysoe and Wilson (2010) concluded that nutrition education and positive food environment may support healthy dietary behaviours of adolescents.…”

“…Mostly, food that was sold in school canteens was defined as unhealthy, expensive and contradicting what is being taught in food literacy classes. Australian adolescents have suggested that the elimination of unhealthy foods from school canteens and increased accessibility of nutritious meals and snacks at a low cost could help them to make healthier food choices (Stephens et al, 2015). There is often a battle between healthy and unhealthy foods within the school setting (Mikkelsen, 2014).…”

“…According to Tysoe and Wilson (2010), the behaviour of school staff is likely to have an impact on students' dietary behaviours through role modelling. Australian adolescents indicated that positive role modelling of school staff regarding healthy dietary behaviours could encourage them to eat healthy (Stephens et al, 2015). As the school environment could influence adolescents' dietary behaviours (Tysoe and Wilson, 2010), it is very important to have a healthy food environment at school including school canteen and other food providers as well as positive role modelling by school staff.…”