Determination of the effect of nutrition education on nutritional knowledge and behaviors of high school students and their parents

Devran, B. Determination of the Effect of Nutrition Education on Nutritional Knowledge and Behaviors of High School Students and Their Parents. Baskent University, Institute of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics Doctorate Thesis, Ankara, 2018. This research was planned in order to determine the effect ofnutrition education given to high school students and their parents on nutrition behavior of students. The research was carried out on the high school students of 14-18 years old in 2017-2018 school year at Hurriyet College and their parents. Students and parents who have agreed to participate in the study have been trained in healthy eating four times in total, twice a month in October and November 2018. The training period is planned as 60 minute trainings with 20 minutes of nutrition education and 40 minutes of question and answer in each training session. Training topics were identified as healthy nutrition, adolescent nutrition, and frequently asked questions. Survey forms including socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional selection, nutritional habits, 3-day food consumption records, food consumption frequency, physical activity and anthropometric measurements were applied to the students and their parents who agreed to participate in the study before and after the training and 2 months after the waiting period. It was determined that waist circumference of boys and girls, BMI values of boys, waist-height ratios of girl students increased after two months waiting.(p<0.05). It has been found that while the proportion of overweight male students decreased after education, that of overweight and obese female students decreased after education and 2 months of waiting.It was determined that while the ratio of total energy from protein and fat increased after 2 months of waiting, the ratio of carbohydrate decreased and daily cholesterol intake increased after training and 2 months waiting (p <0.05). It was found out that daily A, E, niacin, B12, C vitamins, sodium and phosphorus mineral intake went beyond the recommended amount by Turkey Nutrition Guide, while thiamin and folate vitamins, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron intake was found to be below the recommendations . Nutritional knowledge score (p <0.05) and physical activity level (p> 0.05) of students were found to have increased. It was determined that average carbohydrate and folate intake of students decreased while vitamin A intake increased after 2 months waiting time (p <0.05). As a result; there occurred a meaningful increase in the nutrition knowledge level of students after student training, However, nutrition education given to parents did not show the desired effect on the food choice of students and that is because the adolescent period is more affected by the friends environment than families; therefore, it is thought that the application of continuous nutrition and physical activity programs, including parents, as well as the school environment, is important for effective and lasting education.