ResearchCurrent ResearchSociodemographic Differences in Selected Eating Practices among Alternative High School Students
Section snippets
Study Design
Our study utilized a cross-sectional design. Data for this study were collected as part of the Team COOL (Controlling Overweight and Obesity for Life) pilot study, an alternative school-based, multicomponent diet and physical activity intervention trial to promote healthful weight loss or prevent excess weight gain among alternative high school students. This study used baseline data collected in fall 2006 before randomization of schools to intervention and control conditions.
School and Student Sample
A convenience
Measures
The following dependent and independent variables were examined in this study.
Results
Among students, 52% were male and 63% were younger than 18 years (mean age 17.26 years; range 14.06 to 19.81 years). The racial/ethnic distribution was as follows: white 39%, African American 32%, and other 29%. Sixty-four percent of students were categorized as lower SES. Regular soda was consumed more than five to six times per week by more than one half of students (Table 1). Similarly, well more than one half of students consumed sports drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages at least
Discussion
This study examined differences in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, fruits and vegetables, and fast-food restaurant use by sex, race/ethnicity, and SES among students attending alternative high schools. Similar to general adolescent populations, alternative high school students reported high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables (6, 10, 28, 29). However, a higher percentage of alternative high school
Conclusions
The findings of this study indicated that students attending alternative high schools report many unhealthful dietary practices, with African-American students reporting higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods and fast-food restaurant use than students of other races. Unhealthful dietary practices are strongly correlated with an increased incidence of chronic disease and overweight that are prevalent among minorities. It is essential for nutrition and health
C. Arcan is a doctoral degree candidate, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
References (45)
- et al.
Changes in beverage intake between 1977 and 2001
Am J Prev Med
(2004) - et al.
Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain: A systematic review
Am J Clinl Nutr
(2006) - et al.
Correlates of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents
Prev Med
(1996) - et al.
Effects of ethnicity, family income, and education on dietary intake among adolescents
Prev Med
(2003) - et al.
New Moves: A school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls
Prev Med
(2003) - et al.
Prevalence of health-related behaviors among alternative high school students as compared with students attending regular high schools
J Adolesc Health
(2001) - et al.
A rapid food screener to assess fat and fruit and vegetable intake
Am J Prev Med
(2000) - et al.
Soft drink consumption among children and adolescents: Nutritional consequences
J Am Diet Assoc
(1999) - et al.
National trends in soft drink consumption among children and adolescents age 6 to 17 years: Prevalence, amounts, and sources, 1977/1978 to 1994/1995
J Am Diet Assoc
(2003) - et al.
Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: A prospective, observational analysis
Lancet
(2001)
Fast-food consumption among US adults and children: Dietary and nutrient intake profile
J Am Diet Assoc
Fruit, vegetable, and fat intake among non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white adolescents: Associations with home availability and food consumption settings
J Am Diet Assoc
Neighborhood characteristics associated with the location of food stores and food service places
Am J Prev Med
Eat to live, not live to eat
Nutrition
Diet and healthy aging
J Br Menopause Soc
Healthy People 2010
Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
CNRG table set 3.0: Pyramid servings intakes in the United States, 1999-2002, 1 day. 2005US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Web site
Energy and fat intakes of children and adolescents in the United States: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Am J Clin Nutr
Fast food restaurant use among women in the pound of prevention study: Dietary, behavioral and demographic correlates
Int J Obes
Overweight status and eating patterns among adolescents: Where do youths stand in comparison with the Healthy People 2010 objective?
Am J Public Health
Food environment in secondary schools: A la carte, vending machines, and food policies and practices
Am J Public Health
Cited by (0)
C. Arcan is a doctoral degree candidate, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
M. Y. Kubik is an associate professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
J. A. Fulkerson is an associate professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
M. Story is a professor, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis