An Exploratory Study on the Necessity and Promoting Strategies for School-Based Dietary Education: Focus Group Interviews with Home Economics Teachers

This study explored the necessities, facilitators, and barriers of school-based dietary education and examined strategies for its enhancement. Focus group interviews were conducted with eight home economics teachers, who play pivotal roles in delivering dietary education in middle and high schools. The teachers highlighted the growing need for school-based dietary education due to increasing dietary issues among adolescents, media influence, the declining role of families in dietary education, and the importance of nutrition and independent dietary competence during adolescence. Facilitating factors included students’ interest in dietary topics, teachers' engagement in subject research groups and training programs, and public discourse on dietaryrelated social issues. However, barriers such as limited class hours, insufficient school infrastructure and funding, low awareness among school members and parents, outdated educational materials, and unclear boundaries between related subjects hindered implementation. To address these challenges, teachers proposed strategies such as raising public awareness of dietary education, developing field-oriented teaching materials and tools, strengthening teacher training and support systems, and enhancing systematic government support, including dedicated class hours. Strengthening school-based dietary education is expected to equip adolescents with the knowledge and skills necessary for a healthy future.