Relationship of nutrition knowledge and obesity in adolescence.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity in adolescence is increasing. This study determined whether a lack of nutrition knowledge is correlated with obesity in adolescents.


METHODS
We distributed a survey at three high schools to 292 9th-through 12th-grade students. The questionnaire examined the students' nutrition knowledge, food-related behaviors, and food preferences. The students' body mass indices (BMI) were calculated from self-reported weights and heights. Obesity was defined as a BMI greater than the 85th percentile, using criteria from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II.


RESULTS
Of 292 students contacted, 289 returned the survey. The population had a prevalence of obesity of 26%. There were no significant differences in nutrition knowledge between the obese and non-obese students with the exception that obese students were better able to identify high-fiber foods. In addition, obese students were more likely to report infrequent meals with their family. Otherwise, there were no significant differences in nutrition behaviors or food preferences.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall nutrition knowledge did not differ between obese and non-obese adolescents.
Thakur
N
N
Department of Family Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. nthakur@aol.com
D'Amico
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data