Nutrition lessons improve Hispanic teenage girls' knowledge

Neyman, M; Block, G; Morris, J; Zidenberg-Cherr, S

Nutrition lessons improve Hispanic teenage girls' knowledge

Authors

Michelle R. Neyman
Gladys Block
Jennifer L. Morris
Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr

Authors Affiliations

M.R. Neyman is Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Science, California State University, Chico; G. Block is Professor, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley; J. Morris was a Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis. The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the young women and teachers who participated in this study. We also wish to acknowledge Shaya Hamid, Laura Minor, Janet Peerson, Cynthia Serra-Rabenstein and Kirin Tu for their technical assistance; S. Zidenberg-Cherr is Nutrition Specialist, Department of Nutrition, UC Davis. The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the young women and teachers who participated in this study. We also wish to acknowledge Shaya Hamid, Laura Minor, Janet Peerson, Cynthia Serra-Rabenstein and Kirin Tu for their technical assistance.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 54(6):57-60. DOI:10.3733/ca.v054n06p57. November 2000.

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Abstract

Nutrition knowledge and dietary intake among Hispanic teenage girls were assessed before and after a nutrition education intervention. We found that subjects were consuming several important nutrients at levels below current government recommendations. On average, Hispanic teenage girls consumed folate, calcium, zinc and iron at levels that were 40%, 36%, 18% and 8% below current recommendations, respectively. Participation in the five-lesson nutrition education program resulted in a 50% increase in nutrition knowledge and modest changes in dietary behavior; we observed improved dietary intake of vitamin C. Long-term interventions are needed to improve dietary habits as one means of enhancing overall health.

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