Análisis e intervención del desayuno y de la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en escolares y universitarios de Badajoz

Abstract

During the development of childhood and youth phases, a complete and healthy breakfast is considered basic, and it is associated to a better physical and intellectual performance. Scholars and university students are the most valid groups at the time of promoting healthy eating habits, being necessary in this sense to know their daily food intake. The general objective of this research, framed into the discipline of Health Education, has been getting to know and provide data about healthy eating habits of scholars and university students of the province of Badajoz, in relation to the complete and healthy breakfast and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A descriptive and transversal study has been made with a total of 461 students: 301 scholars from the province of Badajoz and 160 university students from the Campus of Badajoz, in the University of Extremadura. The intake of the complete and healthy breakfast, and its adherence to the Mediterranean diet was analyzed through different questionnaires (Food habits: Breakfasts, Kidmed and Predimed). There was also an educational food intervention performed on two student groups, through cooperative learning. The results lead to the conclusion that the eating behaviors of the studied population are far from the complete and healthy breakfast intake and from the recommendations of the Mediterranean Diet. Once the educational intervention finished, a major knowledge about healthy eating habits in the students was observed as well as a greater learning autonomy.