Enhancing Healthy Dietary Habits in Adolescents through Innovative Technology in Pakistani Community

Abstract

Nutrition is known as the science of nutrients to nourish the body by all essential nutrients such as calcium, proteins, fats and minerals. Good nutrition is the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the right combinations. Particular consumption of healthy nutrients during adulthood can reduces constant sickness, chronic diseases, metabolic syndrome; stunted growth and other illnesses. Various junk food items attract more towards unhealthy food. The fast food businesses have been exceptionally replacing healthy food with fast and pre-processed food. Improving healthy eating in children is a major public health issue that requires effective actions in order to avoid adverse short, medium and longer term consequences. In order to enhance nutritional knowledge and healthy dietary behavior, innovative technology was used in this research. Quasi-experimental research was adopted. The study design was mainly quantitative; however, in order to triangulate the data to maintain reliability, qualitative as well as quantitative data collection techniques were used. The research sample was a total of 70 students (i.e. 29 girls, 41 boys) and five teachers. Data was collected from Fauji Foundation School Gilgit-Baltistan. Duration of the study was 2 weeks. It has been made sure that students have played interactive video game five to six times in two weeks’ duration. Learning outcomes were measured through students’ pre and post-tests, however change in dietary behavior was also measured from teachers’ feedback questionnaire. To further investigate the qualitative data, it was also analyzed to find out what changes teachers have found in their students’ eating behavior. The responses of teachers validated our research results. The hypotheses designed for our study were both accepted showing positive results of intervention. This shows that innovative technologies can enhance nutrition education in a better way than traditional methods.