Nutritional knowledge in European adolescents: results from the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study

Public Health Nutrition

Yannis Manios¹  Wolfgang Sichert-Hellert¹  Laurent Beghin¹  Lena Hallström¹  María I Mesana¹  Sabine Dietrich¹  Mathilde Kersting¹  Stefaan De Henauw¹  Evangelia Grammatikaki¹  Luis A Moreno¹  Dénes Molnár¹  Michael Sjöström¹  Maria Plada¹  Raffaela Piccinelli¹ 

关键词: Nutrition knowledge;    Multiple-choice test;    Gender;    Socio-economic status;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S1368980011001352

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveTo build up sufficient knowledge of a ‘healthy diet’. Here, we report on the assessment of nutritional knowledge using a uniform method in a large sample of adolescents across Europe.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingThe European multicentre HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study conducted in 2006–2007 in ten cities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece (one inland and one island city), Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden.SubjectsA total of 3546 adolescents (aged 12·5–17·5 years) completed a validated nutritional knowledge test (NKT). Socio-economic variables and anthropometric data were considered as potential confounders.ResultsNKT scores increased with age and girls had higher scores compared with boys (62 % v. 59 %; P < 0·0001). Scores were approximately 10 % lower in ‘immigrant’ adolescents or in adolescents with ‘immigrant’ mothers. Misconceptions with respect to the sugar content in food or in beverages were found. Overall, there was no correlation between BMI values and NKT scores. After categorization according to BMI, scores increased significantly with BMI group only in boys. These differences disappeared after controlling for socio-economic status (SES). Smoking status and educational level of the mother influenced the NKT scores significantly in boys, as well as the educational levels of both parents in girls.ConclusionsNutritional knowledge was modest in our sample. Interventions should be focused on the lower SES segments of the population. They should be initiated at a younger age and should be combined with environmental prevention (e.g. healthy meals in school canteens).

【 授权许可】

Unknown