Healthy Eating Behaviors and Perceptions Among High School Students in Georgia – Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2013

BACKGROUND:   Engaging adolescents in healthy eating can lower their risk for obesity and related chronic diseases.  Understanding how youth perceive healthy eating can inform messaging to current and future programs and policies that aim to improve healthy eating among Georgia’s high school students.  

METHODS:   We assessed prevalence of healthy dietary behaviors and perceptions about healthy eating using the 2013 Georgia Youth Risk Behavior Survey data for high school students. For the perceptions, we examined 1) reasons for healthy eating and 2) locations of healthy eating by fruit and vegetable intake. Weighted χ2 tests were used to examine any differences in responses for each perception component above by fruit and vegetable consumption status, with p ≤0.05 as the criterion for statistical significance.  All statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) (version 9.3, SAS Institute Inc.) and incorporated appropriate procedures to account for the complex sample design.

RESULTS:   Nineteen percent of students consumed fruit ≥ 3 times/day, 11% of students consumed vegetables ≥ 3 times/day and 8% of students consumed fruit  ≥ 2 times/day and vegetables ≥ 3 times/day. A higher percentage of students who consumed fruits ≥ 3 or vegetables ≥ 3 times/day reported that they wanted to be healthy compared to students who did not eat any fruits or ate vegetables < 3 times/day in the past week (p < 0.05). A higher percentage of students who consumed fruits ≥ 3 or vegetables ≥ 3 times/day reported that they ate healthy foods at home  compared to students who did not eat any fruits or ate vegetables < 3 times/day in the past week (p < 0.05). 

CONCLUSIONS:   A low percentage of Georgia high school students consume fruits at least twice daily and vegetables at least three times daily. Georgia students who did not eat fruits or vegetables at least three times daily were less likely to report stating that they wanted to be healthy compared to students who did report eating fruits or vegetables at least three times daily.  Incorporating messages about students’ perceptions about healthy eating should be considered when developing promotional programs or policies that target healthy eating among high school students in Georgia.