Effect-Evaluation on Nutrition Education in Related Curriculums for Elementary School Children: Focused on Change of Dietary Habits

Her, Eun Sil; Lee, Sang Gyun; Park, Hye Jin; Lee, Kyung Hea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop of nutritional education activities and effect evaluation in related curriculums for all Dongbu Elementary School children in Jinhae by the teacher in charge. This educational purpose was to build a desirable dietary behavior for optimal growth and health in elementary school children. The educational program contents were developed according to 1) selection of content related curriculums 2) analysis of contents related on dietary habits by grade 3) preparation teaching plans to build desirable dietary habits 4) development of teaching manual by turns. Twelve hours of nutrition education at all school classes were done from March 2 to December 10 2004 in Dongbu Elementary School in Jinhae, Gyeongnam. The education effects were evaluated through the questionnaire surveys before and after the education and their comparative analysis. The results of this study were summarized as follows : Forty percent of the underweight group, 22.8% of the normal group, 42.2% of the obese group had the wrong perceptions on their body figures, but after nutrition education 80.5% of the underweight group, 94.3% of the normal group, 97.9% of the obese group gleaned the correct perceptions on their body figures (p<0.001). As the effects of the education, the subjects who exercise more than 3 times in a week increased in all groups (p<0.01 - 0.001), notably in the obese group. Meal regularity (p<0.001), skipping meals (p<0.001), eating rate and snack selection patterns (p<0.01 - p<0.001) also improved by nutrition education. We could also observe the effects of the nutrition education through the affirmative statements which appeared in their dietary records. These results showed a possibility of nutrition education activities in related curriculums to improve in dietary habits of school children. Next year, we will start with the system of nutrition teachers in elementary school, but nutrition teacher cannot undertake the task of teaching and food service management alone. Because of that, we intend to develop this program as an alternative proposal for the nutrition education in elementary schools.