Relationship between adolescents' food-related beliefs and food intake behaviors

This study examines: the relationships between specific food- and weight-related beliefs and the associated behaviors; and the relationship between knowledge, beliefs and behaviors among those attempting weight loss. A survey was conducted by questionnaire among 902 high school students from a coastal, urban town in northern Australia. There were strong relationships between; concern about constituents of food and the consumption of those foods; beliefs about food and the consumption of those foods; and beliefs about weight and weight reduction and the related behavior. Knowledge of desired food intake for weight loss had little effect on the behavior of those who reported trying to lose weight, except for the association between the knowledge that high fat takeaway foods should be reduced and the consumption of those foods. Beliefs about food and weight may be more important than knowledge in altering food related health behavior. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.