Progress 02/01/09 to 01/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A survey was conducted in two high schools in Kent County, Delaware; Dover High School (urban) in Dover and Lake Forest High School (rural) in Felton. The survey was designed and implemented in the spring of 2009 to access high school students' behaviors and attitudes toward the use of food labels. A total of 202 students completed the survey with 34% from Dover high school and 66% from Lake Forest high school. Of the respondents, 54% were females and 46% were males. The mean age of the participants was 16 years. Sixty-one percent described themselves as white. Only 26% of the students reported doing the grocery shopping either by themselves or with other family members. T-tests and Chi-square analyses were used to assess if there were significance difference between the demographic factors and general labels use at 5% level of significance. Summary of findings: The results revealed that 64.7% of the high school students reported using the Nutrition Facts panel either sometimes, most of the time, or always, and more than one-third of the students (35.3%) reported never or rarely used the Nutrition Facts panel when purchasing a product for the first time. One the other hand, only 52.2% of the students reported using the Nutrition Facts panel either sometimes, most of the time or always, and nearly half (47.7%) of the students reported never or rarely used the Nutrition Facts panel when purchasing foods regularly. Female students looked at the Nutrition Facts panel significantly (P <0.05) more than the male students when purchasing food or beverage for the first time. There were no significant differences in the use of Nutrition facts panel by race, grade, or age. Almost 71% (n=77) of females were significantly more likely than male students (57%, n=53) to use Nutrition Facts panel when purchasing packaged foods for the first time. Regarding use of specific elements on the Nutrition Facts panel, calories topped the list of information used (64%), followed by the total of fat (61%), sugars (56%) and serving size (55%). Students didn't pay much attention to trans fat (41%), saturated fat (39%) and fiber (26%). Ninety percent (n= 80) of female students were significantly more likely (P< 0.05) than male students (54.9%, n=50) to look for information about total calories. Also, 63.9% (n=69) of female students were significantly more likely (P<0.05) than male students (46.2%, n=43) to look for information for serving size. Only 37% of the high school students reported using the % DV, while 38% of the students claimed using the amount per serving on the Nutrition Facts panel. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director and co-PDs traveled regularly to Dover High and Lake Forest High schools. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this project are high school students from 9 to 12th grades. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The results of this survey indicated that high school students are less likely to use the Nutrition Facts panel. Continued and expanded nutrition label education is recommended. Food label education programs are crucial in helping students understand and use the nutrition label. This survey strongly supports the critical need to focus on increasing the Nutrition Facts panel education among this age group. Adolescents need to use food labeling on a daily basis to make quick, informed, healthy food choices that contribute to a healthy diet.
Publications
- Khouryieh, H.A. and Giesecke, C. 2009. Food Nutrition Label Use among High School Students in Delaware. 2009. Paper presented at the Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) Tuskegee University, Dec. 6-8, 2009.
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Progress 02/01/08 to 01/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A part-time community nutrition researcher was recruited to help in the development and implementation of the healthy eating and weight gain prevention program tailored to Delaware adolescence. The project director and project coordinator were traveled to the local high schools in Kent County and have established strong connections with two high schools, Dover High in Dover and Lake Forest High in Felton. Arrangements with superintendents of both high schools were made to conduct a food labeling and healthy eating survey. A thirty-question survey was developed to access students' knowledge, skills and attitudes on the use of food label when managing weight and making healthy eating choices. Student and parental consent forms and letters with an explanation of the purpose of the study and procedure for participation were provided, and signed forms were collected prior to administrating the survey. Two hundred and fifty students, 84 from Dover High and 166 from Lake Forest High, from 9 to 12th grades were participated in the survey. All participants were received a $20 gift cards for a local food store as an incentive for participating in the survey. The survey was conducted under the supervision of the project coordinator with help from the high schools teachers. Data analysis is in progress. PARTICIPANTS: Nimi Bhagawan has worked as both nutrition researcher and project coordinator in the past year. Nimi made the arrangements with the high school superintendents and administrated the survey. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this project is high school students from 9 to 12th grades. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Due to the delay in the community nutrition researcher recruitment, a no-cost extension for one year was requested to allow for data analysis and publications.
Impacts
When data analysis is complete, the survey is expected to provide important information pertaining to students' knowledge, skills and attitudes on the use of food label when managing weight and making healthy eating choices.
Publications
- Khouryieh H. A., Besong S., C. Giesecke, and C. Murgia. 2008. Development, implementation and evaluation of educational program for promoting healthy eating choices and preventing weight gain in adolescents. Poster presented at the USDA National Research Initiative conference in Albuquerque, NM.
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