Tell me how you live and I tell you what you eat. Connection between lifestyles and nutritional behavior of adolescents

J. Gerhards, J. Rössel, Leipzig

The present study analyzes the extent to which the nutritional behaviour of adolescents may be explained by the adolescents’ lifestyles. The study is based on a standardized survey of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years and on qualitative interviews of 25 selected pupils.

The results were as follows: 1) We have found five different lifestyle orientations of adolescents. These lifestyles are good predictors of the adolescents’ nutritional behaviour. Pupils mainly interested in high culture and sports have a healthier nutritional pattern than those mainly interested in actions in and outside their families and in television. The connection between lifestyles and diet is supported by statistical evidence; it is also illustrated by our interviews. 2) The lifestyles of pupils are influenced by the lifestyles of their parents . 3) The nutritional behaviour of adolescents is not only influenced by their lifestyles but by several other factors as well. EU07/03

Keywords: adolescents / lifestyles / nutritional behaviour

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 07/03 ab Seite 252.