Food for thought: Exploring associations between knowledge of the Healthy Living Pyramid, the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and food group intake among Western Australian adolescents

Abstract

Evidence indicates adolescents do not comply with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE)-recommended daily serves (RDS). Little research has identified their level of knowledge regarding the guidelines and associations with food intake. Survey methodology was used to measure knowledge of the Healthy Living Pyramid (HLP) and the AGHE-RDS. Food group intake was measured using a modified food frequency questionnaire. A generalised linear model (GLM) investigated the associations between the HLP, RDS knowledge and daily equivalent frequencies (DEFs) for each food group. The study comprised 190 students aged 14-15years. The majority reported accurate knowledge of the HLP. Only fruit and vegetable RDS was correctly identified. Participants did not meet DEFs for any food group. For both DEF grains (P=0.004) and vegetables (P=0.023) participants with correct knowledge reported a DEF closer to the RDS. For DEF-baked goods and snacks (P=0.012), participants reporting correct knowledge also reported DEF closer to the RDS. No associations were identified for the other food groups. SO WHAT?: Knowledge of the HLP was more accurate than the AGHE-RDS. Knowledge of fruit and vegetable RDS was better than the other food groups. The positive associations between knowledge and compliance with the RDS suggest knowledge can influence food choice. However, the lack of associations between knowledge and consumption for most food groups suggests clear "do" messages, similar to Go for 2&5, about the RDS for all food groups should be developed for adolescents.