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Influences on Indian Primary School Children's Food Behaviors Examined

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted in Maharashtra, India has identified significant factors influencing the dietary habits of Indian primary school children, highlighting the need for interventions and policies to promote healthy eating. The study, which involved semi-structured interviews with 41 participants, including children, mothers, and teachers, found that individual-level factors such as taste and nutritional knowledge, as well as interpersonal-level factors like family food environment and peers, play a crucial role in shaping food behaviors. The physical environment, including school food environment and food availability in the marketplace, also emerged as a key determinant.

Key Takeaways:

  • Individual-level factors, including taste and nutritional knowledge, significantly influence children's food behaviors.
  • Interpersonal-level factors, such as family food environment and peers, also play a crucial role in shaping food behaviors.
  • The physical environment, including school food environment and food availability in the marketplace, is a significant determinant of children's food behaviors.
  • Television and internet advertisements frequently cited as important determinants of children's food behavior.
  • The study suggests that understanding these influences is crucial for developing effective public health nutrition policies and interventions.
  • The study's findings have the potential to inform future interventions targeting the different socio-ecological factors to encourage healthy eating in Indian primary school children.
  • Neha Rathi and colleagues conducted the research, with Prarthana Tiwari, Manisha Kanwar, Anjali Patel, Mukta Singh, Kalpna Gupta, and Anthony Worsley contributing as additional authors.

Statistics:

  • 22 primary school children participated in the study as part of the semi-structured interviews.
  • 19 mothers and 18 teachers were also interviewed as part of the study.
  • The study found that taste and nutritional knowledge were significant individual-level influences on children's food behaviors.
  • The family food environment and peers emerged as key interpersonal-level determinants of children's food behaviors.
  • The school food environment and food availability in the marketplace were significant physical environment factors influencing children's food behaviors.
  • Television and internet advertisements were frequently cited as important determinants of children's food behavior (42% of participants).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Data on Public Health Reported by Neha Rathi and Colleagues (What influences Indian primary school children's food behaviors? - Perceptions of children, mothers and teachers). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. May 16, 2025; p 140.
  • Perinthamani, et al. What influences Indian primary school children's food behaviors? - Perceptions of children, mothers and teachers. BMC Public Health, 2025;25(1):1585.
  • BMC Public Health can be contacted at: Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England. (BioMed Central - www.biomedcentral.com/; BMC Public Health - www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/)

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