title: Dietary intake and nutrition-related knowledge in a sample of Lebanese adolescents of contrasting socioeconomic status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Socioeconomic status (SES) is postulated to be a major predictor of dietary intake and nutrition-related knowledge in adults. To date, very few studies have addressed this effect among adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore differences in nutrient intake and nutrition-related knowledge among adolescents of contrasting SES in Lebanon.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, 209 males and females, aged 17 to 19 years, were recruited from a private university with high tuition and a free public university in Beirut. The participants completed a multicomponent, self-administered questionnaire that inquired about demographic characteristics and nutrition-related knowledge. Three nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls were obtained through interviews. Energy-adjusted means of dietary intake and age-adjusted nutrition-related knowledge were compared between groups using a general linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents in the high-SES group consumed more vegetables, meats, and fats and oils (p < .05). Energy and nutrient intake analysis showed that adolescents in the high-SES group consumed significantly higher amounts of calories, protein, fat, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron (p < .001) and significantly lower amounts of carbohydrates (p < .05). Nutritional knowledge, although high among all participants, was higher in the high-SES group (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although both groups showed good nutrition-related knowledge, SES significantly affected dietary intake in a sample of Lebanese adolescents. This warrants consideration of other factors, such as cost and environment, that may modulate eating behavior among adolescents from different socioeconomic strata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabhani-Zeidan
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naja
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nasreddine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000208:ethnology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult