Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the number of hours of nutrition education and teachers' qualifications with nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour in students. In this representative cross-sectional study, socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements, socio-economic status (SES), physical fitness, nutrition knowledge and eating habits were assessed. Differences between groups were tested by χ2 and t tests. Multiple linear and logistic regression modelling was used to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, lifestyle and dietary behaviours, nutrition knowledge, nutrition-trained teachers and number of nutrition lessons. Sixteen secondary schools in urban (n 6) and rural regions (n 10) of Tyrol, Western Austria. Students (n 513) aged 14·2 (sd 0·7) years. Higher nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with attending rural school (P = 0·001), having no migration background (P < 0·001), (very) good physical activity behaviour (P = 0·040), non-trained teacher (P = 0·006) but higher number of hours of nutrition education (P = 0·013). Regression models showed that higher nutrition knowledge was independently associated with lower intake of meat and iced tea and higher intake of vegetables and plant-based oils. A higher amount of nutrition education (h/week) was significantly associated with higher intake of dark (wholegrain) bread, lower intake of meat and of energy drinks sweetened with sweeteners. Our results suggest that more hours in nutrition education result in higher nutrition knowledge and greater nutrition literacy, which may lead to health-promoting dietary habits. School-based nutrition education can be seen as preventive measure to increase nutritional competences in adolescents independent of their SES.
Highlights
MethodsParticipants and procedure This cross-sectional study was carried out in the eighth grade of sixteen randomly selected New Middle Schools’ (NMS) in the federal state Tyrol, Western Austria
Characteristics of the study participants A total of 513 schoolchildren at sixteen secondary schools were included in this cross-sectional study
Studies focus on short-term nutritional interventions, but to our knowledge not on the impact of nutrition education as part of the curriculum
Summary
Participants and procedure This cross-sectional study was carried out in the eighth grade of sixteen randomly selected NMS in the federal state Tyrol, Western Austria. Based on the information provided by the School Board, which included ninety-nine NMS in Tyrol, as well as information about the qualification of the teachers, the schools were stratified by teachers’ qualification, of which seven schools were selected with untrained nutrition teachers, and stratified a second time by the location of the schools (seven urban and seven rural schools). Fourteen NMS were randomly sampled with the aim to reach approximately 500 schoolchildren from the eighth grade. Since the survey was anonymous and no identifying data of the students were collected, consent of the parents was waived. The legal guardians of the students, had the opportunity to refuse their child’s participation in the survey by signing a declaration of non-consent
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