Adolescent Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Healthy Eating: Findings of Qualitative Interviews among Hong Kong Families

Abstract

To tackle unhealthy eating among adolescents, it is crucial to understand the dietary knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on which adolescent eating habits are based. This qualitative study identifies the gaps in KAP by exploring what Chinese adolescents know, perceive, and practice regarding healthy eating to better inform targeted interventions for this important health problem. Parent–adolescent dyads were purposively sampled based on, for example, the dietary intake, age, and gender of the adolescent and household income, and each completed a 30 to 60 min interview. Twelve themes were synthesized: knowledge: (1) dietary recommendations, (2) health outcomes of healthy eating, (3) nutrition content in food, and (4) access to healthy meals; attitudes: (5) outcome expectation for healthy eating, (6) food preferences, and (7) self-efficacy regarding adopting healthy eating; and practices: (8) going grocery shopping for healthy food, (9) eating home-prepared meals. (10) eating out in restaurants or consuming takeaway food, (11) fruit and vegetable consumption, and (12) snacking. Adolescents from low-income families in Hong Kong had insufficient knowledge of dietary recommendations and perceived unhealthy eating, making unhealthy choices regarding snacking and eating out, and in-sufficient fruit and vegetable intake to be low risk. Programs should emphasize the positive short-term health outcomes of healthy eating and empower adolescents to acquire food preparation skills to sustain healthy eating habits.

Benchmarking the university campus food environment and exploring student perspectives about food insecurity and healthy eating: a case study from Australia

“…During the qualitative component of the study, students discussed the wider influences of their food choices whilst on campus, including socio-cultural factors such as peer influence, nutritional quality of foods, time and location, price, and taste. These findings were consistent with previous research that found university students to consume unhealthier foods knowingly due to the convenience, lower price point and peer influence [ 24 ]. Additionally, students reported that taste preferences had a large impact on their food choices whilst on campus as they were less likely to consume healthier foods which were less appealing.…”

Family Facilitators of, Barriers to and Strategies for Healthy Eating among Chinese Adolescents: Qualitative Interviews with Parent–Adolescent Dyads

“…explained the research aim to the families at the beginning of the interview and conducted the interview using a semi-structured interview guide ( Supplementary Materials Document S1 ). The interview guide was developed from the KAP framework that has been used in previous studies [ 19 , 21 ]. Questions were first directed to the adolescents to elicit their perspectives before supplementation by the parents.…”

Factors associated with consuming unhealthy food in school children: A population‐based study from Hong Kong

“…1,[6][7][8] Another qualitative study reported that adolescents did not consider health as the top priority when making food choices; those with fewer healthy eating habits had a poor perception of health risk. 7 Unhealthy eating habits in adolescents were also affected by peer influence, lack of knowledge of and easy access to healthy food, and the perception that 'healthful food is more expensive'. 1,7 Although the Department of Health in Hong Kong 9 has recommended food intake for school children is in the ratio of 3:2:1 (grains:vegetables:meat and its alternatives) by volume, the evident proportion of school-aged children with overweight or obesity reflects the serious problem of unhealthy food consumption young students.…”

“…7 Unhealthy eating habits in adolescents were also affected by peer influence, lack of knowledge of and easy access to healthy food, and the perception that 'healthful food is more expensive'. 1,7 Although the Department of Health in Hong Kong 9 has recommended food intake for school children is in the ratio of 3:2:1 (grains:vegetables:meat and its alternatives) by volume, the evident proportion of school-aged children with overweight or obesity reflects the serious problem of unhealthy food consumption young students. 10 The latest local data showed that, in the annual school year of 2019/2020, the percentage of overweight and obesity of primary school and secondary school students is 19.0% and 21.3%, respectively.…”

“…In Hong Kong, children have been found to have unbalanced diets, including excessive meat and grain consumption 5 . Adolescents in Hong Kong often consumed unhealthy foods, lacked sufficient fruits and vegetables, and did not find healthy eating enjoyable 1,6–8 . Another qualitative study reported that adolescents did not consider health as the top priority when making food choices; those with fewer healthy eating habits had a poor perception of health risk 7 .…”