Comparison of health interests and knowledge among 8,799 secondary school pupils following mixed, vegetarian, and vegan diets

IF 2.9 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Clinical nutrition ESPEN Pub Date : 2025-03-21 DOI:10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.03.043

Derrick R. Tanous , Gerhard Ruedl , Clemens Drenowatz , Werner Kirschner , Gerold Wirnitzer , Manuel Schätzer , Katharina C. Wirnitzer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background & aims

The accumulation of health knowledge may motivate the development of long-term healthy behavior in secondary school ages. The present investigation aimed to assess the health interests and knowledge of secondary school pupils following different types of diets.

Methods

The From Science 2 School study was developed with a cross-sectional design. Pupils of secondary school levels I and II were invited to complete an online survey with questions on the individual, physical activity, nutrition, and health. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-squared tests were used in the statistical analysis.

Results

A basic sample of 8845 participants completed the survey. Following data clearance, 8799 pupils (aged 15.1 years; 63.1 % girls, 36.9 % boys) were eligible for the final analysis. Pupils followed a mixed diet (n = 8164; 92.8 %) vegetarian diet (n = 493; 5.6 %), or vegan diet (n = 142; 1.6 %). Girls were more likely to consume a vegetarian (n = 429; 87 %) or vegan diet (n = 108; 76 %; p < 0.01). The vegetarian and vegan subgroups were more frequently interested in health and nutrition (p < 0.01) but similar for interest in physical activity and sports (p > 0.05). A higher prevalence of overweight and obesity was found among the mixed diet subgroup (n = 987; 12.1 %; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

This is the first study to assess health interests and knowledge in school pupils following vegetarian and vegan diets. The results indicate that following a vegetarian or vegan type of diet during childhood and adolescence is associated with a higher level of health knowledge and nutritional understanding.

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对8,799名混合饮食、素食和纯素饮食的中学生健康兴趣和知识的比较

背景与目的：健康知识的积累可以促进中学龄儿童长期健康行为的发展。本研究旨在评估不同饮食类型中学生的健康兴趣和健康知识。方法：采用横断面设计进行科学2学校研究。邀请中学一年级和二年级的学生完成一项关于个人、体育活动、营养和健康的在线调查。统计分析采用方差分析（ANOVA）和卡方检验。结果：共有8845名参与者完成了调查。数据清除后，8799名学生(15.1岁；63.1%的女孩，36.9%的男孩)符合最终分析。学生采用混合饮食(n = 8164；92.8%)素食(n = 493；5.6%)或纯素饮食(n = 142；1.6%)。女孩更有可能吃素食(n = 429；87%)或纯素饮食(n = 108；76%;p0.05)。在混合饮食亚组中发现了更高的超重和肥胖患病率(n = 987；12.1%;结论：这是第一个评估学生在素食和纯素饮食后的健康兴趣和知识的研究。结果表明，在儿童和青少年时期遵循素食或纯素食饮食与更高水平的健康知识和营养理解有关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical nutrition ESPEN NUTRITION & DIETETICS-

CiteScore

4.90

自引率

3.30%

发文量

512

期刊介绍： Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is an electronic-only journal and is an official publication of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). Nutrition and nutritional care have gained wide clinical and scientific interest during the past decades. The increasing knowledge of metabolic disturbances and nutritional assessment in chronic and acute diseases has stimulated rapid advances in design, development and clinical application of nutritional support. The aims of ESPEN are to encourage the rapid diffusion of knowledge and its application in the field of clinical nutrition and metabolism. Published bimonthly, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN focuses on publishing articles on the relationship between nutrition and disease in the setting of basic science and clinical practice. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is available to all members of ESPEN and to all subscribers of Clinical Nutrition.