The Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge Scores and Dietary Behavior, Dietary Intakes and Anthropometric Parameters among Primary School Children Participating in a Nutrition Education Program

ABSTRACT

We aimed to evaluate the effect of nutrition education program on nutrition knowledge, dietary behavior, dietary intakes and anthropometric parameters in primary school children. Eighty five 4th grade children (boys = 43, girls = 42) were enrolled in the intervention program for 5 months. The subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire about nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior two times, at the baseline and after completion of the program. Dietary intake information was collected from participants using a 3-day food record and their anthropometric parameters were measured. Upon completion of the intervention program, both nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior scores were significantly improved in all subjects. Energy intake was increased from 1,571.9 kcal to 1,734.1 kcal with significant improvements in nutrient density for protein, Ca, P, K, vitamin A and niacin. While subjects' height, weight, lean body mass and soft lean mass were significantly increased during the program, significant decreases were observed in the rohrer index, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio and body fat mass. The changes in nutrition knowledge scores were positively correlated with the changes in dietary behavior scores, micronutrient intakes and anthropometric parameters. These results indicate that enhancement of nutrition knowledge through well-planned long-term nutrition education program is effective not only for the improvement of dietary behaviors and dietary intakes but also for the positive changes in anthropometric parameters among primary school children.