Research and Development Unit of the Primary Health Care, Sundsvall, Dept. Of Nursing, Umeå University,
Mid Sweden Research and Developement Center, Sundsvall

Abstract

Introduction: Healthy food habits are often established during the youth. Investigations on food habits among children and adolescents are important. Aim: The objective of this investigation was to ascertain some food habits among pupils aged 12-13 years, in four municipalities in the county council of Västernorrland, Sweden. An additional purpose was to analyse possible differences in food habits between groups of pupils. Method: A questionnaire survey was carried out on a random sample consisting of 879 pupils in 26 schools. The participants answered questions about how many meals they eat during the day, the frequency of different foodstuffs and among others, how many times during the week they have breakfast. The four municipalities, are named Rural district, Industrial town, Small industrial municipality and Small school town. Result: The results show differences in daily consumption of the various foodstuffs, between the pupils. For example the consumption of butter is highest among the pupils in the Rural district (85%) and lowest among them in the Small school town (70%). The consumption of low fat margarine is lowest among them living in the Rural district (34%) and highest among the Small school town´s pupils (58%). All the pupils have high consumption of fruit, highest among them living in the Rural district and the Small school town (76% both). Eating breakfast is common among all pupils. The boys eat breakfast more often than the girls. The girls living in the industrial town eats breakfast most often (82%). Among the boys it is those living in the small school town who eats breakfast most often (86%). Final results: Additional results of this survey will be presented at the conference. The results will may be the basis of actions to improve the food habits among the adolescents, for the benefit of the health in the future.

Keywords

Survey, Random sample, Adolescents, Food habits, Frequency of foods, Breakfast

Institution

Research and Development Unit of the Primary Health Care, Sundsvall, Dept. Of Nursing, Umeå University, Mid Sweden Research and Developement Center, Sundsvall

Postaddress

Norrmalmsgatan 2

Postcode

SE-852 34

City

Sundsvall

Country

Sweden

Contact

Mäkinen Ingrid

E-mail

ingrid.makinen@lvn.se

Phone

+ 46 60 18 24 31

Fax

+ 46 60 17 53 93