A longitudinal study of the dietary intake of 51 adolescents in South Staffordshire, UK

Abstract

Fifty-one UK adolescents aged 11–13 had their dietary intake measured using food diaries, in association with a Food Atlas, at baseline and two years later. BMR and BMI were also calculated. Energy intake/BMR ratio is an effective method for evaluating the validity of children's food diaries. The response rate was very low, which has implications for health promotion research. Dietary intakes were found to fall short of current recommendations. For example, calcium intakes were low and iron intakes of the girls were very low. Implications are that partnerships must be forged between health educators, nutritionists and school children. School Nutrition Action Groups offer one way forward and much needs to be done outside of formal school environments if nutritional change is to be achieved.