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Description:
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Type 2 Diabetes (T2D ) among adolescents has increased over the past several decades . Genetic susceptibility may play a role in the occurrence of this illness . However , the current epidemic of T2D among adolescents reflects , in part , changes in the quality of the adolescent diet , particularly fast food consumption .
Therefore , the aims of this study were to : (1 ) determine the nutritional intake of adolescents who are at risk for the development of T2D using an interactive CD (Fast Foods and Families : Making Good Choices for Better Health ) ; and (2 ) identify the level of dietary self -efficacy (DSE ) for adolescents at risk for the development of T2D following a nutrition education program (NEP ) .
A quasi -experimental pretest -posttest design with random assignment was used with 40 adolescents (ages 11 to 15 ) identified as at risk for T2D . Four NEP sessions were conducted with the intervention group and a 45 -minute standard education program session was conducted with the control group .
Forty -seven percent (n = 19 ) of the adolescents were considered at risk for being overweight (17 .5 % ; n = 7 ) or were overweight (30 % ; n = 12 ) . A majority (80 % ) of adolescents consumed some fast food . Approximately 38 % (n = 15 ) of adolescents reported eating fast food more than twice a week . There were no differences between the groups on their selection of calories , fat , sodium , and sugar (p > .05 ) following the intervention . DSE improved significantly (t = -5 .055 , df = 19 , p = .000 ) following the completion of the NEP . While the NEP did not make a difference in the food selected by the adolescents , an improvement in DSE was noted following these sessions . |