A pilot study of the effect of cholesterol measurement on the eating patterns of adolescents

Epidemiologic research demonstrates that a diet high in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol is linked to elevated cholesterol levels and increased risk for heart disease in adults. It is thought that this relationship also holds true for children and adolescents. The literature shows strong support for combining instruction strategies with cardiovascular risk factor screening within the educational setting. Reasons cited include: enhancing the effectiveness of classroom curriculum in achieving health behavior modification; presenting a motivational component; providing important physiological feedback; and offering norm-creating potential. Teaching the adolescent the importance of controlling blood cholesterol through a low-fat diet can be difficult, but producing a change in behavior can be even more challenging. The purpose of this project was to determine whether or not incorporating a cholesterol measurement into instructional strategies would enhance learning. Project objectives included: 1) increasing students' knowledge of the health effects of a high blood cholesterol; and 2) promoting a change in dietary behaviors related to low-fat dietary choices.