Targeting unnecessary dieting among children

Abstract

education interventions designed to decrease inappropriate dieting among young people have usually been written for adolescents. However, the literature suggests that dieting behaviors begin prior to adolescence, indicating that a need exists for nutrition education interventions for the preadolescent. In response to this need , the Healthy Growth nutrition education lessons were developed. T o promote positive body image and discourage inappropriate dieting behaviors among fourth and fifth grade children, a pilot-test to determine the effectiveness of the lessons to change knowledge was performed prior to the distribution of the lessons to all fourth and fifth grade school teachers in Iowa. Based on responses from a random sample survey of 591 fourth and fifth grade Iowa educators that was designed to elicit teachers ' perceptions of general nutrition problems of students, and a review of the literature, a series of three lesson plans and activities were developed. The lesson plans address body image, normal growth patterns for 9to 12-year-old children, and characteristics of a healthful diet. Each lesson includes four sections: (1) Helping Children Learnobjectives; (2) For Your Information-background information for the teacher; (3) Leaming Activities-worksheets and other activities to help teach the lesson and (4) What Have You Learned?-five true and false questions to help evaluate learning. Each lesson may be incorporated into the physical education or health curriculum, or can be used individually as an enrichment lesson. The first lesson, entitled Body Image-I Like What I See, focuses on helping students recognize that each person has genetic determinants of body shape that are difficult to change. Each student is asked to use a checksheet to identifY body parts they are dissatisfied with and would like to change. They are then helped to realize that being dissatisfied with some parts of their body is a normal part of growing up. A search-a-word puzzle is used to help students identifY factors that influence body satisfaction. In the second lesson, GrowthWatch Me Grow Now, a crossword puzzle delineating normal growth and development during preadolescence and early adolescence is the target activity. An information sheet is first distributed to the students to describe normal body changes during preadolescent and adolescent growth. For example, girls are informed that their hips will widen and that they will accumulate body fat. Muscle development and broadening of the shoulders are described to boys. This is followed by a discussion to encourage questions prior to the distribution and completion of the crossword puzzle. In the final lesson, Nutrition to Grow On, students evaluate their current dietary intake by filling out a modified diet history !food frequency