Perceptions of Healthful Eating and Influences on the Food Choices of Appalachian Youth

Abstract

Objective Patterns of overweight and obesity are unequally distributed geographically, with elevated rates in Appalachia. Appalachian youth's perceptions toward healthy eating and influences on food choice were examined as part of formative research to address these disparities. Methods Eleven focus groups, averaging 6 youth (n=68) and moderated by experienced local residents, were conducted with participants aged 8–17. Session transcripts were coded for thematic analysis, using measures to enhance rigor and transferability. Results Participants discussed numerous internal and external factors affecting dietary choices. While expressing confidence in their own nutritional knowledge, they stressed the importance of taste preferences, cost, convenience, social influences, and advertising on diet. Conclusions and Implications Appalachian youths' awareness of the multiple influences on diet may create opportunities for multi-faceted, ecologically-based interventions. In particular, participants stressed the importance of social influences on diet and on successful nutrition programming.

Adolescents’ health choices related rights, duties and responsibilities: An integrative review

“…We found that the special feature of adolescents' autonomy in health choices was their age, with autonomy evolving year by year 35 and control over their own choices 33 and independence 5,35,36,40 increasing. The adolescents´ health choices, and their growing level of autonomy, were influenced by their social environment, including the diminishing influence of their parents 36 and the growing influence of friends 35,40 .…”

“…The 13 original studies we selected employed a range of methods: six were qualitative, four were quantitative and three were theoretical ( Table 2). The data collection methods mentioned in the qualitative studies were interviews 33,34 , focus group discussions 35 and group research sessions 36 . In addition, there were combinations of individual, pair and group interviews 37 , as well as individual interviews, group discussions and observations 38 .…”

“…Target groups also varied in relation to sex and sample size. The target groups were described in relation to their background as an average group 35 , as an urban group 34,39 , as a lower-socioeconomic group 5,33,36,37 and as a group with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds 38,40,41 . Seven of the selected studies were conducted in North America 33,36,[39][40][41][42][43] , four in Europe 34,35,37,38 and one each in Australia 44 and Asia .…”

Nutritious or Delicious?

“…Similarly, Salama & Esmail, [42] found that students have little knowledge of the macro-and micro-nutritional content and value of the foods they were eating. Swanson et al, [43] found that Appalachian youth base their food choices on factors such as taste, cost, and convenience, rather than healthiness. Taken together, these findings suggest the presence of one or more mediating factors between the two sample groups besides the tendency to engage in exercise.…”

Spatial and Psychosocial Influences on Food Access in Rural Appalachia

“…Additionally, studies on Appalachian adolescents found social norms that contributed to unhealthy eating patterns (Swanson, Schoenberg, Davis, Wright, & Dollarhide, 2013;Williams, Taylor, Wolf, Lawson, & Crespo, 2007). The multi-level influences on food choices identified in previous studies highlights the need for additional research to further illuminate Appalachian social determinants of health.…”