Effect of a Nutrition Education Program on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Dietary Practices, Anthropometry, and Hemoglobin in Peruvian Adolescents

Leslie Noemi Vasquez-Mamani,1,&ast; Lucero Abigail Cueva-Calizaya,1,&ast; Norma Del Carmen Gálvez-Díaz,2 Jacksaint Saintila,2 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla1 1Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 2Research Group for Nutrition and Healthy Behaviors, School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Perú&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Research Group for Nutrition and Healthy Behaviors, School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Km 5, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email [email protected] Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla, Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, 15, Chosica, Lima, Perú, Email [email protected]: Anemia and obesity are significant public health challenges among adolescents, often linked to inadequate nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Educational interventions targeting these factors may play a crucial role in improving adolescent health outcomes.Objective: To determine the impact of a nutrition education program on the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and dietary practices, anthropometric parameters and hemoglobin in Peruvian adolescents.Methods: A pre-experimental study was conducted among Peruvian adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age from an educational institution located in eastern Lima, Peru. Body mass index/age (BMI/age), waist circumference (WC), hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and a self-reported questionnaire were assessed. A nutrition education intervention was conducted for 16 weeks.Results: After the implementation of the program, a significant improvement in knowledge scores (84.4%, p < 0.001), attitudes (59.1%, p < 0.001), and practices (47.7%, p < 0.001) scores was observed. BMI/age scores decreased by 3.1% (p < 0.001). Similarly, WC scores showed a significant decrease of 1.0% (p < 0.001). Hb levels increased significantly by 3.25% (p < 0.001) in women, but not in men.Conclusion: This study showed that nutrition education programs could improve knowledge, attitudes, and dietary practices, BMI/age, WC, and Hb scores in Peruvian adolescents.Keywords: nutrition education, adolescents, anemia, obesity, knowledge, attitudes, dietary practices, body mass index, waist circumference, hemoglobin