Southerland Jodi L, Dula Taylor M, Slawson Deborah L
East Tennessee State University.
J Appalach Health. 2019 Jul 6;1(2):31-43. doi: 10.13023/jah.0102.04. eCollection 2019.
Diet and nutrition play an important role in a child's health and reduce the risk of numerous health problems including obesity. Dietary habits can be difficult to modify in children, particularly in Appalachia, where access to affordable, healthy foods is limited.
To examine barriers to healthy eating among Appalachian youth.
In 2013-2014, data were gathered via focus groups and interviews from parents, school personnel, and adolescents (N=99) in six counties across southern Appalachia. Data were analyzed using thematic network analysis. Analysis was completed in 2015.
Participants identified multiple barriers to healthy eating among adolescents. Barriers comprised three global themes: cultural norms, school-based nutrition policy and programming, and rurality. Within the individual and home environment, beliefs and practices, time management, and preference for unhealthy foods affected adolescents' dietary behaviors. Schools faced challenges in terms of translating nutrition policy into practice, providing nutrition education, and engaging stakeholders. Limited socioeconomics and food deserts/swamps were community-level impacts.
Participants discussed how adolescents' eating behaviors were shaped by social, physical, and environmental factors (e.g., cultural norms, school-based nutrition policy/programming, and rurality). These findings provide important insights into barriers to healthy eating in this population and point to future directions for research and practice. For example, the findings can be used by school personnel to develop ecologic approaches to school-based nutrition programming in Appalachia. Student associations can also use these findings to actively participate in efforts to improve school food offerings.
饮食和营养对儿童健康起着重要作用，并能降低包括肥胖症在内的众多健康问题的风险。儿童的饮食习惯很难改变，尤其是在阿巴拉契亚地区，那里获得价格合理的健康食品的机会有限。
研究阿巴拉契亚地区青少年健康饮食的障碍。
2013年至2014年，通过焦点小组以及对阿巴拉契亚南部六个县的家长、学校工作人员和青少年（N = 99）进行访谈收集数据。使用主题网络分析法对数据进行分析。分析工作于2015年完成。
参与者确定了青少年健康饮食的多个障碍。这些障碍包括三个总体主题：文化规范、基于学校的营养政策和规划以及乡村性。在个人和家庭环境中，信念和行为、时间管理以及对不健康食品的偏好影响着青少年的饮食行为。学校在将营养政策转化为实践、提供营养教育以及吸引利益相关者方面面临挑战。社会经济条件有限以及食品荒漠/沼泽是社区层面的影响因素。
参与者讨论了青少年的饮食行为是如何受到社会、身体和环境因素（如文化规范、基于学校的营养政策/规划以及乡村性）影响的。这些发现为该人群健康饮食的障碍提供了重要见解，并指出了未来研究和实践的方向。例如，这些发现可供学校工作人员用于制定阿巴拉契亚地区基于学校的营养规划的生态方法。学生社团也可以利用这些发现积极参与改善学校食品供应的工作。
