School-based approaches to affect adolescents' diets: Results from the TEENS study

Leslie A. Lytle, David M. Murray, Cheryl L. Perry, Mary Story, Amanda S. Birnbaum, Martha Y. Kubik, Sherri Varnell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

120 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article reports on the outcomes of the Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School (TEENS) study, a 2-year intervention study conducted in 16 middle schools with a goal of increasing students' intakes of fruits, vegetables, and lower fat foods. Despite positive interim results for students randomized to intervention schools, the positive effects of the intervention were not seen for the primary outcomes at the end of the 2nd year. Positive effects were seen only for a food choice score (suggesting that the students usually choose lower versus higher fat foods) and not for measures of food intake. Future studies may need to take a step back toward more controlled efficacy studies in working with this age-group. In addition, future work may consider the use of peer leaders, more intensive teacher training, ongoing formative assessment, and the testing of more powerful environmental change intervention strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)270-287
Number of pages18
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2004

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Dietary behaviors
  • Middle schools
  • Nutrition

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