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Title: EFFECTS OF A NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM ON THE DIETARY BEHAVIOR AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE OF SECOND-GRADE AND THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS

Author
item POWERS, ALICIA - UNIV SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
item STRUEMPLER, BARBARA - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GUARINO, ANTHONY - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item PARMER, SONDRA - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of School Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2005
Publication Date: 4/1/2005
Citation: Powers, A.L., Struempler, B.J., Guarino, A., Parmer, S.M. 2005. Effects of a nutrition education program on the dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge of second-grade and third-grade students. Journal of School Health. 74(4):129-133.

Interpretive Summary: This research investigated the effects of a nutrition education program on dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge among elementary school-aged children participating in a theory-based nutrition education program. Participants included 1,100 second- and third-grade students selected by convenience type sampling from public schools in Alabama. A pre-test and post-test along with treatment and control groups assessed dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge using Pizza Please, a specially designed interactive evaluation tool. It was found that children in the treatment group exhibited significantly greater improvement in overall dietary behavior, such as consumption of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, than children in the control group. Children in the treatment group exhibited significantly greater improvements in nutrition knowledge, including Food Guide Pyramid understanding, nutrient-food association and nutrient-job association, than children in the control group. Results suggest that theory-based nutrition education programs that teach positive dietary messages potentially can improve dietary behavior and increase nutrition knowledge in children.

Technical Abstract: This research investigated the effects of a nutrition education program on dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge among elementary school-aged children participating in a Social Cognitive Theory-based nutrition education program. Participants included 1100 second-grade and third-grade students selected by convenience-type sampling from public schools in Alabama. A preassessment and postassessment control group design assessed dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge using Pizza Please, a specially designed interactive evaluation tool. A 2X2 mixed analysis of variance was used to analyze data. Children in the treatment group exhibited significantly (p<0.001) greater improvement in nutrition knowledge, including Food Guide Pyramid understanding, nutrient-food association, and nutrient-job association, than children in the control group. Results suggest that nutrition education programs that teach positive dietary messages potentially can improve dietary behavior and increase nutrition knowledge in children.