Unhealthy Snack Consumption and Nutrition Literacy in a School Setting: A Social-Ecological Lens Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Unhealthy snack consumption, Nutrition literacy, Obesity prevention, School-aged student, Social-ecological lensAbstract
Background: Obesity among school-aged children is a public health concern. Developing context-appropriate school-based prevention requires understanding barriers, facilitators, and stakeholder perspectives on children’s eating behaviors. This study aimed to explore perceived influences on unhealthy snack consumption and nutrition literacy among school-aged children across multiple social-ecological levels and identify stakeholder-suggested components that could inform the development of a future school-based obesity-prevention intervention. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in a rural school in Thailand. Data from 35 key informants students, teachers, parents, school lunch cooks, shop vendors, and the school director were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and participant observations. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis informed by both NL and the SE lens. Results: Five themes emerged: (1) limited nutrition literacy and misperception of snack food choices; (2) weak family–teacher reinforcement of healthy eating habits; (3) inadequate school policy and learning environment; (4) community and vendor collaboration gaps; and (5) a co-created mutual problem-solving program for obesity prevention. Students chose snacks mainly based on taste, habit, and peer influence and had limited understanding of nutrition and food labels. Support and communication between families and teachers were inconsistent, school nutrition activities were irregular, and nearby vendors commonly sold fried and sugary foods. Conclusions: Preventing obesity among school-aged students requires attention to both individual nutrition literacy and the family, school, and community environments that shape daily food choices. These findings may inform the development of a coordinated, multilevel school-based prevention program integrating nutrition literacy; however, its feasibility and effectiveness require further evaluation.
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