The nutritional knowledge and attitudes of 11–12 year olds from four different European countries: A pilot project

Abstract

Introduction The incidence of nutrition related diseases features to varying extents in different countries (WHO 1998). Individuals need to be provided with nutritional knowledge and skills to enable them to consume a healthy diet. Potentially, the main arena for providing children and adolescents with nutritional knowledge and skills is school. The aim of this study was to compare the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents in England [Merseyside] (E), Northern Ireland (NI), Sweden (S) and Lithuania (L).

Methods A questionnaire was designed, which examined attitudes to aspects of healthy eating and tested the subject's knowledge, both practical and theoretical, of nutrition and healthy eating. Subjects aged 11–12 years were recruited (E 541, NI 128, S 87, L 50).

Results Although significant differences were found between countries for nearly all attitude statements, the majority from all countries ‘liked the taste of healthy food’, ‘understood what to eat to have a healthy diet’, considered that ‘there were healthy foods at home’, that ‘healthy eating was important’ and that ‘their health in the future may be affected by what they eat today’. Poor knowledge concerning fat, carbohydrates and dietary fibre, and good knowledge of fruit and vegetables, breakfast cereals and salt were recorded. The mean percentage total and theoretical knowledge scores (correct answers) from England and the practical score from Lithuania were significantly higher than those from the other countries (p <0.05).

Conclusions Adolescents from all countries have a positive attitude to healthy eating, however their knowledge appears not always to provide them with the means of making healthy eating choices.

Key words:

• nutritional knowledge
• attitudes
• preadolescents
• Northern Ireland
• England
• Lithuania
• Sweden