Korean J Nutr.  2009 Jun;42(4):338-349. 10.4163/kjn.2009.42.4.338.

The Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge Scores and Dietary Behavior, Dietary Intakes and Anthropometric Parameters among Primary School Children Participating in a Nutrition Education Program

• Lee JW
• Lee HS
• Chang N
• Kim JM

• KMID: 2265653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2009.42.4.338

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the effect of nutrition education program on nutrition knowledge, dietary behavior, dietary intakes and anthropometric parameters in primary school children. Eighty five 4th grade children (boys = 43, girls = 42) were enrolled in the intervention program for 5 months. The subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire about nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior two times, at the baseline and after completion of the program. Dietary intake information was collected from participants using a 3-day food record and their anthropometric parameters were measured. Upon completion of the intervention program, both nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior scores were significantly improved in all subjects. Energy intake was increased from 1,571.9 kcal to 1,734.1 kcal with significant improvements in nutrient density for protein, Ca, P, K, vitamin A and niacin. While subjects' height, weight, lean body mass and soft lean mass were significantly increased during the program, significant decreases were observed in the rohrer index, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio and body fat mass. The changes in nutrition knowledge scores were positively correlated with the changes in dietary behavior scores, micronutrient intakes and anthropometric parameters. These results indicate that enhancement of nutrition knowledge through well-planned long-term nutrition education program is effective not only for the improvement of dietary behaviors and dietary intakes but also for the positive changes in anthropometric parameters among primary school children.

Keyword

nutrition education; nutrition knowledge; dietary behavior; anthropometric parameters; primary school children

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Child
Energy Intake
Humans
Micronutrients
Niacin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vitamin A
Waist-Hip Ratio
Micronutrients
Niacin
Vitamin A

Reference

1. Koplan JP, Liverman CT, Kraak VI, Committee on. Preventing childhood obesity: health in the balance: executive summary. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005. 105(1):131–138.

2. Adair LS, Popkin BM. Are child eating patterns being transformed globally? Obes Res. 2005. 13(7):1281–1299.

3. Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Third Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) 2007 - Nutrition Survey. 2008.

4. Cole K, Waldrop J, D'Auria J, Garner H. An integrative research review: effective school-based childhood overweight interventions. JSPN. 2006. 11(3):166–177.

5. Receveur O, Morou K, Graydonald K, Macaulay AC. Consumption of key food items is associated with excess weight among elementary school-aged children in a Canadian first nations community. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008. 108(2):362–366.

6. Linda G. Wofford, RN, MSN, CPNP. Systematic review of childhood obesity prevention. J Pediatr Nurs. 2008. 23(1):5–19.

7. St-Onge MP, Keller KL, Heymsfield SB. Change in childhood food consumption patterns: a cause for concern in light of increasing body weights. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003. 78(6):1068–1074.

8. Stock S, Miranda C, Evans S, Plessis S, Ridley J, Yeh S, Chanoine JP. Healthy Buddies: A novel, peer-led health promotion program for the prevention of obesity and eating disorders in children in elementary school. Pediatrics. 2007. 120(4):1059–1068.

9. Moon HK, Park Y, Park JH. Evaluation of a nutrition education program for 5th grade students provided by community health centers in the Seoul metropolitan area. J Korean Dietetic Assoc. 2008. 14(3):259–275.

10. Fahlman M, Dake J, McCaughtry N, Martin J. A pilot study to examine the effects of a nutrition intervention on nutrition knowledge, behaviors, and efficacy expectations in middle school children. J Sch Health. 2008. 78(4):216–222.

11. You SH, You HJ, Park YS. The effect of iron-enriched cereal breakfast and nutrition education on the nutritional status and life style of elementary school students. Korean J Nutr. 2007. 40(8):728–735.

12. Hyon SM, Kim JW. Improvement of dietary attitudes of elementary students by nutrition labeling education. Korean J Community Nutrition. 2007. 12(2):168–177.

13. Chang SO, Lee OH, Lee KS. Intake of processed foods and the effects of nutrition label education in 5th grade children. J Korean Dietetic Assoc. 2008. 14(2):166–175.

14. Sharma SV, Gernand AD, Sue Day R. Nutrition knowledge predicts eating behavior of all food groups except fruits and vegetables among adults in the Paso del Norte Region: Qu? Sabrosa Vida. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2008. 40:361–368.

15. Yoon HS, Yang HL, Her ES. Effect of nutrition education program on nutrition knowledge, dietary diversity of elementary school children. Korean J Community Nutrition. 2000. 5(3):513–521.

16. Lee YJ, Kim GM, Chang KJ. The analysis of effect on nutrition education of elementary school children, Inchon. J Korean Dietetic Assoc. 2000. 6(2):86–96.

17. Park SJ. The effect of nutrition education program for elementary school children. J Korean Dietetic Assoc. 2000. 6(1):17–25.

18. Kyeon YK, Jang YA, Kim JW. Application of a practical nutrition education program, KIDIKIDS, for the improvement of dietary attitudes and habits of elementary students. Korean J Nutr. 2006. 39(8):808–816.

19. Rasanen M, Keskinen S, Niinikoski H, Heino T, Simell O, Ronnemaa T, Helenius H, Viikari J. Impact of nutrition counselling on nutrition knowledge and nutrient intake of 7-to 9-y-old children in an atherosclerosis prevention project. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004. 58:162–172.

20. Powers AR, Struempler BJ, Guarino A, Parmer SM. Effect of a nutrition education program on the dietary behavior and nutrition knowledge of second-grade and third-grade students. J Sch Health. 2005. 75(4):129–133.

21. Klohe-Lehman DM, Freeland-Graves J, Anderson ER, Mcdowell T, Clarke KK, Hanss-Nuss H, Cai G, Puri D, Milani TJ. Nutrition knowledge is associated with greater weight loss in obese and overweight low-income mothers. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006. 106:65–75.

22. Lee YM, Lee MJ, Kim SY. Effects on nutrition education through discretional activities in elementary school. J Korean Dietetic Assoc. 2005. 11(3):331–340.

23. Ku PJ, Lee KA. A survey on dietary habit and nutritional knowledge for elementary school children's nutritional education. Korean J Dietary Culture. 2000. 15(3):201–213.

24. The Korean Nutrition Society. Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. 2005. Seoul:

25. Warren JM, Henry CJ, Lightowler HJ, Bradshaw SM, Perwaiz S. Evaluation of a pilot school programme aimed at the prevention of obesity in children. Health Promot Int. 2003. 18(4):287–296.

26. BurleyMoore J, Pawloski L, Rodriguez C, Lumbi L, Ailinger R. The effect of a nutrition education program on the nutritional knowledge, hemoglobin levels, and nutritional status of Nicaraguan adolescent girls. Public Health Nurs. 2009. 26(2):144–152.

27. Shin EK, Lee HS, Lee YK. Effect of nutrition education program in obese children and their parents (II). Korean J Community Nutrition. 2004. 9(5):578–588.

28. The Korean Pediatric Society Committee on Health and Statistics. Physical Growth of Children in Korea. 2007. The Korean Pediatrics Society.

29. Mirmiran P, Azadbakht L, Azizi F. Dietary behaviour of Tehranian adolescents does not accord with their nutritional knowledge. Public Health Nutr. 2007. 10(9):897–901.