Educational Nutritional Intervention for Adolescents

Background: Adolescent nutrition is of vital importance for their growth and development, at this stage eating habits for adult life are consolidated. However, currently the eating habits of adolescents are mainly characterized by a high consumption of ultra-processed foods and a low consumption of vegetables and fruits. Effective nutritional interventions focused on this age group can contribute to the prevention of adolescent diseases at the current stage and in later stages. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an educational nutritional intervention, based on the Social Cognitive Theory, to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits and decrease the consumption of ultra-processed foods, in adolescent high school students at the University of Guadalajara (UDG), in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in the year 2022. Material and methods: Randomized controlled trial by conglomerates, students from the school groups chosen at random, from two high schools (one as a control group and another intervention) also chosen at random will be included. Adolescents who agree to participate will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments on fruit and vegetable consumption and ultra-processed foods. A multilevel analysis will be used to compare post-intervention variables between groups.