THE EFFECT OF A SCHOOL-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM ON FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION FREQUENCY AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Adolescent dietary habits, particularly the rising consumption of fast food, present significant public health challenges with long-term implications for chronic disease risk. This study examined the effect of a school-based nutrition education program on fast food consumption frequency among high school students. Using a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design, 120 high school students were assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a six-week nutrition education program grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, addressing nutritional knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding fast food consumption. Results demonstrated statistically significant reductions in fast food consumption frequency in the intervention group compared to controls (p < 0.001), alongside improvements in nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward healthy eating, and perceived behavioral control. These findings support the efficacy of theory-driven, school-based nutrition interventions in modifying adolescent dietary behaviors and suggest implications for health education policy.
Keywords: Nutrition education, fast food consumption, high school students, Theory of Planned Behavior, school-based intervention