THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION EDUCATION ON THE DIETARY HABITS OF FEMALE
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nutrition education on the dietary habits of female secondary school students. Sixty adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 18 were chosen at random from two secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. Nutrition education increased their mean nutrition knowledge scores significantly (p0.01) from 11.17=1.42 to 19.16 =1.8. All adolescent subjects had a significant increase in average daily intake of all nutrients. Following nutrition education, the average contribution of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to total energy increased. Following nutrition education, the practice of meal skipping was found to significantly decrease, resulting in improved dietary habits. As a result, nutrition education is essential.
an effective strategy for bringing about a positive and significant change in adolescent nutrient intake.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND
Nutrition education is any combination of educational strategies, accompanied by environmental supports, designed to encourage voluntary adoption of healthy food choices and other food- and nutrition-related behavior.
Nutrition education is provided in a variety of settings and involves activities at the individual, community, and policy levels (Jones and Bartletti, 2007).
This definition, authored by Dr. Isobel Contento, a leading authority in nutrition education, has been adopted by society for nutrition education and behavior. Nutrition educators work in colleges, universities, and schools, as well as government agencies, cooperative extension, communications and public relations firms, and the food industry.
industry, volunteer and service organizations, and other reliable sources of nutrition and health education information.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) issued a position paper on teenagers’ nutritional needs. According to this paper, adolescent health is dependent on normal dietary intakes, and that providing foods with adequate energy and nutrients is critical for physical, social, and cognitive growth and development.
Adequate nutrient intake during adolescence is critical for a variety of reasons. Adolescence is a unique stage of life because it is characterized by rapid physical, psychological, and cognitive development.
Adolescence is a stage between childhood and adulthood. The age of adolescence encompasses a period of time when bodies metamorphose and evolve into those of adults.
industry, volunteer and service organizations, and other reliable sources of nutrition and health education information.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) issued a position paper on teenagers’ nutritional needs. According to this paper, adolescent health is dependent on normal dietary intakes, and that providing foods with adequate energy and nutrients is critical for physical, social, and cognitive growth and development.
Adequate nutrient intake during adolescence is critical for a variety of reasons. Adolescence is a unique stage of life because it is characterized by rapid physical, psychological, and cognitive development.
Adolescence is a stage between childhood and adulthood. The age of adolescence encompasses a period of time when bodies metamorphose and evolve into those of adults. It is a period in which the adolescent attempts to forge his own identity while desperately seeking social acceptance from his peers (Lulinski, 2001). Hormonal changes during adolescence accelerate height growth. Except for the first year, growth is faster than at any other point in the individual’s life (Brasel, 1982). Adolescents gain up to 50% of their adult weight, more than 20% of their adult height, and 50% of their adult skeletal mass during this period, resulting in increased nutritional needs (Brasel, 1982). As a result, the adolescent faces a number of serious nutritional challenges that will have an impact on both their rapid growth and their health as adults. However, the adolescent population is largely ignored, difficult to measure, and difficult to reach.
As a result, the needs of adolescent girls, in particular, are frequently ignored (Kurz and Johnson-Welch, 1994).
Protein requirements are highest during this stage of development. Increased physical activity, combined with poor eating habits and other factors such as menstruation, oral contraceptive use, and pregnancy, all contribute to highlighting the potential risk of poor nutrition for adolescents.
1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Poor nutritional choices and practices have been shown to increase during adolescence, highlighting the importance of nutrition education. It is critical that health educators investigate nutrition education and its impact on adolescent female dietary habits. Several studies have been conducted to determine how nutrition education affects adolescent dietary habits.
These studies examined the impact of nutrition education on adolescent athletes.
analyzed how nutrition education impacts snack patterns.
Undernutrition in the form of stunning and wasting is one of the most serious nutritional issues affecting adolescent populations in particular. Others include micronutrient deficiencies such as iron and vitamin A, obesity, and other specific nutrient deficiencies (Kurz and Johnson-Welch, 1994).
Adolescents who marry while still growing and have a poor nutritional status are more likely to have smaller infants than mature women with the same nutritional status (WHO, 1995) due to competition for nutrients between the growing adolescent and the growing fetus (Scholl et al, 1990) and poorer placental function (Colson, 1987). Adolescent girls and women who are malnourished have underweight and often stunned babies. As young children, these infants are less able to learn.
They are more likely to become parents to infants with intrauterine growth.
Retardation and low birth weight are both problems. They are, however, less able to generate a living and are less prepared to fight chronic diseases later in life. Such lifecycle and intergenerational links necessitate sustained, long-term ameliorative action, which this study aims to provide (ACC/SCN, 2000).
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to see how nutrition education affected the nutritional intake of female secondary school students.
To educate adolescent girls about nutrient sources and a balanced diet.
To aid in the improvement of adolescent girls’ eating habits.
To serve as a guide to nutrition educators and dieticians
To recommend nutrition education as part of the curriculum of secondary school in Nigeria.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to highlight the significance of nutrition education in improving adolescent girls’ nutrient intake.
The adolescent female is one particular group of interest. Few studies have looked at the effect of nutrition education on adolescent female dietary intakes. The current study looked at the impact of a term-long nutrition education class on the dietary habits of adolescent females in secondary schools in Benin City. The dietary intakes of female students who completed a nutrition education class were compared to female students who did not. The current study’s findings are significant because they help nutrition educators and dieticians understand whether adolescent females given a one-term time period will lose weight.
Females who do not receive nutrition education develop better eating habits.
1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH
The research questions will focus on adolescent girls’ socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and nutritional knowledge.
1.5 THE STUDY’S OBJECTIVE
This study will be limited to secondary school in Egor L.G.A, Edo State, Nigeria, in order to recognize similar conditions faced by female students in other states of Nigeria. The survey will only look at adolescent girls’ nutrient intake.
Nutrition education lectures for the subjects will be held, and pamphlets and handouts will be used to supplement the lectures.
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