Comparison of the feeding behavior of children attending half-day and full-day school.

Fidanci, Ä°zzet; Yengil Taci, Duygu

AIMS This study compares the self-reported feeding behaviors of children attending half- and full-day school to investigate the effect of time spent at school. METHODS A survey was conducted between January 2020 and March 2020 for students aged 6-18 years. Participation was voluntary, and written consent was obtained from parents. Data were collected from 772 students (385 half-day and 387 full-day students). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS V16.0. RESULTS The number of meals students ate per day varied based on the amount of time they spent at school, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.011). The percentage of students who reported that they ate four or more meals per day was 15.2% in the full-day group and 7.8% in the half-day group. In terms of dieting status, 3.9% of half-day students and 1% of full-day students reported that they were on a diet. CONCLUSION The number of meals and dieting status relate to the amount of time students spend in school. Based on these findings, it is recommended that nutrition education be offered in schools and that school cafeteria menus reflect the advice of nutrition experts.