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Table 5 Changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding snacks and sugar

From: Evaluation of the Good Start Program: a healthy eating and physical activity intervention for Maori and Pacific Islander children living in Queensland, Australia

Snacks

Question/Statement

% with correct answer -pre-test N = 357

% with correct answer post-test N = 305

P value

AORa for change

P value

Knowledge

The body’s preferred fuel is carbohydrate

22.8% (18.5–27.6)

53.7% (47.9–59.5)

<0.001

4.18 (2.95–5.92)

<0.001

Eating mindfully means I am paying attention to what and how much I am eating

57.4% (52.1–62.6)

83.1% (78.4–87.2)

<0.001

3.57 (2.43–5.23)

<0.001

Processed snack foods are low in salt, sugar and fat (neg)

45.8% (40.5–51.1)

53.6% (47.8–59.4)

0.050

1.00 (0.71–1.43)

0.980

Being obese means there is a higher chance of getting a chronic disease like diabetes

82.6%(78.5–86.6)

83.8% (79.1–87.7)

0.830

1.05 (0.68–1.62)

0.820

Chips, lollies, chocolate or take away food are very fatty and give me too much energy

60.8% (55.5–65.9)

68.8% (63.2–74.0)

0.030

1.40 (1.00–1.96)

0.045

Swapping a large portion size to a smaller one can help to manage your weight

62.2% (56.9–67.2)

79.1% (74.1–83.6)

0.001

2.11(1.48–3.01)

<0.001

Packing my own lunch box is a great way to control what you eat during the day

75.9% (71.1–80.3)

79.5% (74.5–83.9)

0.300

1.17 (0.80 = 1.72)

0.410

  

% with strongly agree or agree – pre-test

% with strongly agree or agree – post-test

   

Attitudes

I eat more when I am tired or stressed out

21.1% (16.9–25.7)

27.3% (22.4–32.7)

0.060

1.37 (0.95–1.98)

0.096

I ask my parents to buy foods or drinks that I see advertised on television

25.8% (21.3–30.6)

24.0% (19.3–29.2)

0.600

0.86 (0.60–1.24)

0.424

I usually get the largest portion of food on offer, when having take-away food (e.g. upsizing)

21.1%(16.9–25.7)

29.9%(24.8–35.4)

0.009

1.70 (1.18–2.46)

0.004

I think fruit and vegetable sticks are an easy snack

79.0% (74.5–82.9)

80.9% (76.0–85.1)

0.560

1.10 (0.74–1.63)

0.630

Buying snacks or lunch out can be very expensive when compared with taking a homemade meal.

60.0% (54.7–65.1)

71.9% (66.4–76.9)

0.002

1.79 (1.27–2.52)

0.001

I like to snack between meals

47.5% (42.2–52.8)

51.3% (45.5–57.1)

0.250

1.12 (0.82–1.53)

0.490

I like to eat similar snacks to my friends

31.9% (27.1–37.0)

27.6% (22.7–33.0)

0.230

0.82 (0.58–1.15)

0.254

  

% consuming at least 4 times/week pre-test

% consuming at least 4 times/week post-test

   

Practices

Packet of chips/snacks (e.g. potato or corn chips twisties)

23.6% (19.3–28.4)

16.1%(12.2–20.7)

0.010

0.58 (0.38–0.87)

0.009

Chocolate/chocolate bars

9.0% (6.2–12.4)

9.5% (6.5–13.4)

0.890

1.13 (0.65–1.94)

0.663

Lollies

12.6% (9.4–16.5)

10.9% (7.6–14.9)

0.480

0.87 (0.53–1.41)

0.570

Muesli bar/ fruit bar/LCM’s

28.7% (24.0–33.7)

29.2% (24.2–34.6)

0.930

0.97 (0.69–1.38)

0.890

Yoghurt/ custard/chocolate custard

20.0% (16.0–24.5)

20.0% (15.7–24.9)

0.070

0.98 (0.66–1.45)

0.900

Savoury biscuits/crackers

14.6% (11.1–18.8)

13.8% (10.1–18.2)

0.820

0.94 (0.60–1.47)

0.780

Sweet biscuits/cake/muffin/doughnut

17.4% (13.6–21.7)

10.9% (7.6–15.0)

0.020

0.59 (0.37–0.94)

0.026

Ice-cream / ice blocks

24.4% (20.0–29.2)

20.7% (16.3–25.6)

0.260

0.83 (0.57–1.21)

0.342

Vegetables or salad

65.3% (60.1–70.2)

72.0% (66.6–77.0)

0.060

1.35 (0.96–1.90)

0.085

Fruit (fresh or canned)

78.6% (74.0–82.7)

74.8% (69.5–79.5)

0.540

0.79 (0.54 –1.15)

0.218

Dried fruit (e.g. sultanas)

13.4% (10.1–17.4)

15.6%(11.7–20.2)

0.440

1.28 (0.82–1.99)

0.277

Hot chips/French fries/wedges

15.5% (11.9–19.7)

17.5%(13.4–22.2)

0.530

1.09 (0.71–1.68)

0.700

Pies/pasties/sausage rolls

18.2% (14.3–22.6)

15.4% (11.5–20.0)

0.350

0.82 (0.53–1.27)

0.380

Hot dogs

9.2% (6.4–12.7)

9.5%(6.5–13.4)

1.000

0.97 (0.56–1.70)

0.930

Pizza

12.0% (8.9–15.9)

11.3% (8.0–15.5)

0.810

0.95 (0.58–1.58)

0.850

Sandwich/roll

63.3% (58.1–68.3)

60.1% (54.3–65.6)

0.420

0.88 (0.63–1.22)

0.440

Bread/toast

62.4% (56.9–67.2)

58.2% (52.5–63.8)

0.300

0.82 (0.59–1.13)

0.220

Spaghetti/pasta/noodles/rice

40.3% (35.2–45.6)

39.6% (34.1–45.4)

0.850

0.99 (0.72–1.36)

0.940

Soup

18.8% (14.9–23.2)

22.3% (17.7–27.5)

0.290

1.29 (0.87–1.91)

0.210

  1. aAOR = Adjusted Odds Ratio for change from pre- to post-test, adjusted for age and gender of the children