Food habits of school pupils in Tromsø, Norway, in the transition from 13 to 15 years of age

• Published in: International Journal of Consumer Studies
• Main Author: Øvrebø, Else Marie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2010
• Subjects: Norway; Tromsø
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2010.00952.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1470-6431.2010.00952.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2010.00952.x

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the development of food habits in adolescents in Tromsø, whether pupil behaviour regarding food habits had changed in tenth grade compared with eighth grade, and whether this was linked to pupils' Home Economics lessons in ninth grade. A total of 606 adolescents (321 boys and 285 girls) were studied on two different occasions – 2002 and 2005. A food‐frequency questionnaire comprising 16 different food and beverage groups was used. The questionnaire also enquired about food habits, the amounts of some food items consumed and the socio‐economic conditions of the participants and their families. The frequency of eating breakfast, lunch and dinner decreased from eighth to tenth graders. Tenth graders ate chocolate and snacks more often than eighth graders. Girls reported eating fruits and vegetables more often than boys. This applies to both eighth and tenth graders. Far more pupils from both groups need to eat more fruits and vegetables every day. The conclusion of the study is that food habits change significantly from the eighth to the tenth grade. Further progress must be achieved in addressing the issue of translating the theory of nutritional education into practice. More studies and evidence are required to understand the potential of the Home Economics curricula to change the unhealthy eating trends seen in this and other studies.