Dietary Quality of Diverse, Rural Adolescents Using the Healthy Eating Index - 2010

Mary O Hearst; Lisa J Harnack; Qi Wang; Marilyn S Nanney

doi:10.14485/HBPR.3.6.1

Dietary Quality of Diverse, Rural Adolescents Using the Healthy Eating Index - 2010

Health Behav Policy Rev. 2016 Nov;3(6):519-527. doi: 10.14485/HBPR.3.6.1.

Authors

Mary O Hearst¹, Lisa J Harnack², Qi Wang³, Marilyn S Nanney⁴

Affiliations

¹ Henrietta Schmoll School of Health, St. Catherine University, Saint Paul, MN.
² Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
³ Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
⁴ Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Abstract

Objective: We report baseline dietary intake using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) - 2010 in rural, diverse adolescents from Minnesota.

Methods: In 2013-2014, 9th-10th graders who reported eating breakfast less than 3 or fewer times per week were recruited from 16 rural schools. Data included computer-based survey results, measured height and weight, and 24-hour dietary recalls. Schools provided student data on free/reduced meal status. The HEI-2010 was calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls. Regression models assessed demographic differences in HEI-2010.

Results: The sample mean HEI-2010 score was 52 out of 100 (N = 732 adolescents). Boys (mean HEI-2010=50.1) were statistically significantly lower than girls (mean HEI-2010=53.4). There was no significant difference by free/reduced price lunch or white versus students of color.

Conclusion: Rural adolescent breakfast skippers report poor dietary intake quality.

Keywords: adolescent health; breakfast skippers; healthy eating index; rural health.

Abstract

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