Abstract of research poster presentation
Session II: Nutrition
94. Evaluation of a Nutrition Education Intervention for Adolescents Visiting the Teen Health Van of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.10.159Get rights and content

Section snippets

Purpose

The main objective of this pilot study was to assess the impact of a brief nutritional education intervention on adolescents' dietary and food purchasing habits.

Methods

A convenience sample of low-income at-risk adolescents was recruited from three partner sites of a mobile health clinic targeting uninsured and homeless youth. At all three sites - a Boys' and Girls' Club, an LGBTQ community center, and a charter continuation high school – recruitment consisted of on-site presentations from research staff and postings on social media and message boards. Inclusion criteria limited enrollment to English speakers aged 15-25. Assent and parental consent were

Results

A total of 19 adolescents (9 males, 10 females) average age 18.4 (range 15-23) completed the study. Data from the 24-hour food recall showed a statistically significant increase in consumption of protein group foods, and a trend towards increased consumption of dairy, fruit and grains, with a slight decrease in vegetable consumption. Shopping trip data showed a trend of decreases in total calories, protein, sugar, total fat and trans fat, and an increase in the amount of fiber and sodium

Conclusions

The principal conclusion of this study is that this brief nutrition education intervention had an initial overall positive impact on these low income, at-risk adolescents' nutrition and food buying habits.This study demonstrates that this type of intervention can serve as a model for future projects targeting nutrition and food buying habits in adolescents. Future studies should focus on implementing additional educational intervention sessions, utilizing both individual and small group

Sources of Support

Funding for this study was provided by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, the Children's Health Fund, and the Arnold P Gold Foundation.

References (0)

Cited by (0)

View full text