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The effect of multi-strategy nutrition education programs on hedonic hunger and nutrition status in adolescents
Raising adolescents’ awareness of hedonic hunger, differentiating it from homeostatic hunger, and helping them regulate excessive food consumption are crucial for a healthy transition into adulthood. The authors Bozkurt & Yildiran (2024) aimed to investigate the effects of multi-strategy nutrition education programs (MSNEP) on adolescents’ overall hedonic hunger, nutritional status, food addiction, and nutrition literacy. Over the course of four weeks, 132 adolescents (ages 11 to 15; 69 males and 63 girls) participated in the study, which used a pre-test and post-test design. Sessions lasted 45 to an hour. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews at three points: before the program (baseline), at the fourth week, and at the eighth week. Anthropometric and sociodemographic information, and a 24-hour dietary recall, in addition to data obtained from validated tools (the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 [YFAS-C 2.0], the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale [ANLS], the nine-item Children’s Power of Food Scale [C-PFS-9, short version]) were among the methods used to gather study participants’ data. C-PFS-9 total scores significantly decreased compared to baseline. Girls had no discernible changes in their YFAS-C 2.0 levels, whereas boys’ scores decreased. Girls’ ANLS scores increased, while males’ results did not change much. By week four, the intake of dairy products, legumes, vegetables, fruits, bread, grains, nuts, and seeds increased significantly, alongside daily protein and fiber consumption. Higher YFAS-C 2.0 scores were associated with greater hedonic hunger, while lower ANLS scores correlated with increased sensitivity to food taste and availability. The MSNEP positively influenced hedonic hunger, food addiction, nutrition literacy, and healthy eating behaviors, with notable differences between boys and girls. To promote healthy body weight management, implementing MSNEP in schools is strongly recommended. [NPID: Multi-strategy nutrition education programs, adolescent, children’s power of food scale 9, hedonic hunger, nutritional status]
Year: 2024
