Are Adolescents' Perceptions of Dietary Practices Associated with Their Dietary Behaviors?

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2011-11, Vol.111 (11), p.1735-1740
• Main Authors: Velazquez, Cayley E., MS, RD, Pasch, Keryn E., PhD, MPH, Ranjit, Nalini, PhD, Mirchandani, Gita, PhD, MPH, Hoelscher, Deanna M., PhD, RD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Diet; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internal Medicine; Intervention; Male; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Perception; Self Concept; Teenagers; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2011.08.003

Abstract Despite interventions designed to change behavior, many adolescents continue to consume unhealthy foods. Dietary patterns are important for disease prevention, making it necessary to understand the reasons for these poor choices. This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between perception of dietary practices and dietary behaviors among adolescents. Participants (n=15,283; mean age=15 years; 50.7% female) completed the 2004-2005 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition survey. Perception of dietary practices included fat content of foods usually eaten and healthiness of usual eating habits. Dietary behavior was measured by self-report of foods eaten the day before survey administration. Composite scores of unhealthy and healthy eating were created. Regression analyses examined whether perception of dietary practices was consistent with actual dietary behavior, controlling for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity, and accounting for the complex sampling design. Higher perceived fat content was associated with increased consumption of unhealthy foods, while higher perceived healthiness of eating was associated with increased consumption of healthy foods. For perceived fat content, the difference in the Healthy Eating Index between extreme categories was 26% ( P