Examining the Effect of a Healthy Nutrition Program on the Nutritional Habits and SelfEsteem of Adolescent Children

OpenAlex İngilizce

Especially today, increased fast- food consumption, coupled with the influence of technology, has led to a high prevelance of obesity. Obesity not only leads to health problems but can also significantly impact adolescents’ self-esteem. With these considerations in mind, this study aimed to examine the effects of fast-food consumption and eating habits on obesity and self-esteem during adolesence. A pretest- posttest weak experimental design, a quantitative research method, was employed in the study. Data were collected from 80 adolescent children aged between 14 and 17 studying at Çankırı Health Vocational High School in the spring of 2024-2025. Data were collected using a “General Information Form”, the “Eating Habits Scale for Adolescents”, and the “Scale for Psychological Development in Adolescence”. In addition, a "Healthy Nutrition Education Program" was developed and implemented for adolescent children. Before implementing the "Healthy Nutrition Education Program," the "Eating Habits for Adolescents" and the "Scale of Psychological Development in Adolescence" were administered as pre-tests. After 10 weeks of training, the same scales were re-administered as post-tests. The study found that children's post-test scores on their eating habits were higher than their pre-test scores. Post-test scores on the psychological development scale were also significantly higher. Therefore, it was concluded that the implemented educational program influenced their eating habits. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that healthy eating programs be developed and implemented over the long term to include different age groups. Keywords: Nutrition, Nutrition Disorders, Obesity, Adolescence, Self- Esteem