Document Detail


Gender perspectives on adolescent eating behaviors: a study on the eating attitudes and behaviors of junior secondary students in Hong Kong.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20579607     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to investigate the eating attitudes and behaviors of junior secondary students in Hong Kong, with a specific focus on possible gender differences. DESIGN: A survey was conducted in 2005 to solicit data about participants' food knowledge, eating attitudes and behavior, perceptions of cooking skills and body weight, and related factors influencing food choice. SETTING: Twenty-three secondary schools located in different district areas of Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: The sample was composed of 836 students (41% male, 59% female) aged 11-18 years selected by random sampling. ANALYSIS: Cross-tabulation analyses were used to compare the responses by gender. RESULTS: Regardless of gender, less than half of the sample ate breakfast every day, and their consumption of fruits and vegetables was below recommended daily intakes. No significant differences were observed between respondents' eating habits and levels of food knowledge.Female students were more weight conscious than male students. Dissatisfaction about body weight was common among normal and underweight students. Cooking skills were generally valued as important life skills by both genders, though cooking skills were seen to be more relevant for girls. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: School nutrition education in Hong Kong should be designed to appeal to boys as well as girls, and effective implementation of nutrition education programs should inculcate healthful eating habits and sound cooking skills and address the needs of students with reference to gender differences. A more diversified approach could be employed through formal and informal curricula, prioritizing cooking skills and food advertising literacy in the curriculum.
Authors:
Wai-Ling Theresa Lai Yeung
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of nutrition education and behavior     Volume:  42     ISSN:  1708-8259     ISO Abbreviation:  J Nutr Educ Behav     Publication Date:    2010 Jul-Aug
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-28     Completed Date:  2010-11-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101132622     Medline TA:  J Nutr Educ Behav     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  250-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 Society for Nutrition Education. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Physical Education, Technology and Living Division, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, PRC. tlai@ied.edu.hk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet* / psychology
Feeding Behavior* / psychology
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Health Promotion / methods
Hong Kong
Humans
Male
Nutritional Sciences / education
Sex Characteristics
Urban Population

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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