Impact of the Nutrition for Life program on junior high students in New York State.

Abstract

School-based nutrition education represents an important component in a national strategy for health promotion. This study evaluated the impact of a school-based nutrition teaching program, Nutrition For Life, on the nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behavior of seventh and eighth grade students from New York State. Some 1,863 students in 103 randomly selected classes completed a paper and pencil test covering nutrition attitudes, behavior, and knowledge. Modest use of the teaching program (median use = 3 hours) was associated with modest but significant differences in nutrition attitude, behavior, and knowledge scores. Interactions among teacher assignment, nutrition teaching, and Nutrition For Life use explained significant variations in nutrition test scores. Additional exposure to the program was associated with significantly higher nutrition attitude and behavior scores in schools with a higher proportion of low-income students.