Self-Efficacy and Self-Reported Dietary Behaviors in Adolescents at an Urban School With No Competitive Foods

Over one third of U.S. adolescents are overweight. A descriptive, cross-sectional study examined the relationship between student dietary self-efficacy (SE), sugar-sweetened beverages, and low-nutrient energy-dense food consumption, and exposure to a healthy school food environment without competitive foods. The sample consisted of 292 urban, primarily African American students aged 11 to 16 years. Mantel–Haenszel χ² analyses revealed a significant but weak linear trend for girls between number of school meals and SE to drink less soda, χ²(1) = 6.882, p = .008, and between semesters attended with SE to eat more fruits and vegetables, χ²(1) = 5.908, p = .015. Obese students had significantly higher scores for two SE items than nonobese students, that is, plan better nutrition, χ²(1) = 3.998, p = .045, and eat healthy at a fast-food restaurant, χ²(1) = 4.078, p = .043. Further study of adolescent SE for healthy eating and school-based, food-focused obesity prevention interventions is needed.