Posters
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Faculty
Discipline/Specialty (Author 2)
Internal Medicine
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract
Background: 26.2% of Hispanic American children are obese, while 19.7% of children in the United States are obese. We developed and delivered a 30-minute interactive nutrition session for high school students including a nutrition knowledge assessment in the predominantly Hispanic region of South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley.
Methods: We designed the curriculum to teach high school students about the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages, the importance of eating whole foods, and tools for making healthy choices. We presented “Let’s Eat Healthy” to 70 high school students as part of a day-long interprofessional conference by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work. Audience engagement included a sugar-sweetened beverage demonstration and a live quiz on PollEverywhere. Students anonymously answered eleven nutrition questions in teams of six to eight. The university’s Institutional Review Board approved this study.
Results: Less than half of the teams were aware of the MyPlate message “Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.” 1 out of 9 teams correctly identified white rice as a refined grain. 100% incorrectly indicated that most Americans do not get enough dietary protein.
Conclusions: Students were aware of common conditions associated with unhealthy eating. However, general nutrition knowledge among high school students could be improved. Interactive activities like a “Rethink your Drink” demonstration can create memorable visual cues. Knowledge assessments can drive learning in a short amount of time by revealing knowledge gaps. As physicians are regarded as credible sources of nutrition information, community outreach by resident physicians can develop skills in public speaking and educating on Lifestyle Medicine. Most Americans do not follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Local efforts to incorporate nutrition education into high school curricula can help adolescents make healthy food choices as they develop eating habits.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Ramirez Iglesia, Michaela Q. and Chang, Chelsea, "Let’s Eat Healthy: Piloting a Brief Interactive Nutrition Session for High School Students – Role of a Physician" (2024). Research Colloquium. 30.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2023/posters/30
Included in
Let’s Eat Healthy: Piloting a Brief Interactive Nutrition Session for High School Students – Role of a Physician
Background: 26.2% of Hispanic American children are obese, while 19.7% of children in the United States are obese. We developed and delivered a 30-minute interactive nutrition session for high school students including a nutrition knowledge assessment in the predominantly Hispanic region of South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley.
Methods: We designed the curriculum to teach high school students about the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages, the importance of eating whole foods, and tools for making healthy choices. We presented “Let’s Eat Healthy” to 70 high school students as part of a day-long interprofessional conference by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work. Audience engagement included a sugar-sweetened beverage demonstration and a live quiz on PollEverywhere. Students anonymously answered eleven nutrition questions in teams of six to eight. The university’s Institutional Review Board approved this study.
Results: Less than half of the teams were aware of the MyPlate message “Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.” 1 out of 9 teams correctly identified white rice as a refined grain. 100% incorrectly indicated that most Americans do not get enough dietary protein.
Conclusions: Students were aware of common conditions associated with unhealthy eating. However, general nutrition knowledge among high school students could be improved. Interactive activities like a “Rethink your Drink” demonstration can create memorable visual cues. Knowledge assessments can drive learning in a short amount of time by revealing knowledge gaps. As physicians are regarded as credible sources of nutrition information, community outreach by resident physicians can develop skills in public speaking and educating on Lifestyle Medicine. Most Americans do not follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Local efforts to incorporate nutrition education into high school curricula can help adolescents make healthy food choices as they develop eating habits.