Teenagers' Rationales for Their Food Behaviours: Directives for Teaching

Authors

  • M. Judith Lynam

Abstract

As a result of the health policy established by Lalonde (1974), Canadian health care workers in general, and nurses in particular, have involved themselves in intervention programmes and research aimed at the modification of lifestyles. One category of health behaviour clearly linked to both long and short term health status is diet (Caliendo, 1981; Valadian, Berkey, & Reed, 1981). The study described here was designed to explore this category of health behaviours, specifically the nutritional behaviour of teenagers. Rationale for and Purposes of the Study It is important to describe and identify dietary patterns, and to assess the incidence and type of nutritional problems. Several researchers have done this with the adolescent population. These studies include descriptions of meal patterns (Hinton, Eppright, Chadderdon, & Wolins, 1963; Huenemann, Shapiro, Hampton, & Mitchell, 1966), biochemical deficiencies (Faigle, 1973; Nutrition Canada, 1973 & 1975), and changing nutritional needs as a result of growth (Marino & King, 1980; Stare & McWilliams, 1973). In order to understand why some teenagers choose healthy diets and others do not, some researchers have examined the relationship between attitudes toward foods and food practices, as well as knowledge of nutrition and food practices Kaufman, Poznanski, & Guggenheim, 1975; Thompson & Schwartz, 1977).

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Published

1985-04-13

Issue

Section

Articles