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Tongan adolescents' eating patterns : opportunities for intervention
journal contribution
posted on 2011-01-01, 00:00 authored by K Cacavas, Helen Mavoa, Peter KremerPeter Kremer, Mary MalakellisMary Malakellis, K Fotu, Boyd Swinburn, A de Silva-sanigorskiThe purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the sources of food and dietary patterns of Tongan adolescents (n = 2084) and their perceptions of sociocultural influences. The study incorporated anthropometric measurements, a behavioral survey, and qualitative interviews. More adolescent Tongan females (82.5%) than males (74.3%) reported sourcing morning tea and/or lunch (females 81.9%, males 72.6%) from school canteens or nearby food outlets. More females than males reported consuming obesity-promoting foods such as packaged snack foods (females 38.2%, males 21.3%), chocolates (females 24.7%, males 15.0%), and soft drinks (females 55.3%, males 50.4%). Food purchased for consumption at schools was predominantly energy dense and nutrient poor. Ensuring that students have access to foods of high nutritional quality sourced from school or home, and restricting access to local food outlets that supply unhealthy products would improve the nutrition status of adolescents in Tonga. Furthermore, it is important that obesity prevention interventions are informed by culture-specific influences to optimize uptake of healthy diets.
History
Journal
Asia Pacific journal of public healthVolume
23Issue
1Pagination
24 - 33Publisher
Sage Publications, Inc.Location
Thousand Oaks, Calif.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1941-2479Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, APJPHUsage metrics
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