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Sociodemographic differences in selected eating practices among alternative high school students
Chrisa Arcan1, Martha Y Kubik, Jayne A Fulkerson
1School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S 2nd St, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. arca0021@umn.edu
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|April 28, 2009
Summary
Students in alternative high schools show high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, with significant racial/ethnic disparities. Health promotion programs are crucial for this at-risk youth population.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Alternative high school students are at high risk for poor health behaviors and obesity.
- Dietary practices in this population are largely unknown.
- Understanding these practices is key to developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between demographics (sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status) and dietary habits.
- To examine consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, fruits, vegetables, and fast-food restaurant use.
- To inform health promotion strategies for alternative high school students.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, population-based study of 145 adolescents in alternative high schools.
- Survey data collected on dietary practices and fast-food consumption.
- Mixed model multivariate analyses used to assess demographic associations.
Main Results:
- Over half of students consumed regular soda at least 5-6 times/week; half used fast food 3-4 times/week.
- African-American students reported higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, and more frequent fast-food use.
- Higher socioeconomic status correlated with increased regular soda consumption.
Conclusions:
- Significant racial/ethnic and sex disparities exist in unhealthy dietary practices among alternative high school students.
- These findings highlight the urgent need for tailored health promotion initiatives within alternative school settings.
- Targeted interventions can address obesity and poor health behaviors in this vulnerable group.
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