Lessons learned about adolescent nutrition from the Minnesota Adolescent Health Survey

In 1986-1987, more than 30,000 adolescents completed the Minnesota Adolesce nt Health Survey, a comprehensive assessment of adolescent health status, h ealth behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Although the survey included rel atively few items on nutrition-related issues, a wealth of knowledge about adolescent nutrition was gained. Lessons learned from a decade of subsequen t analyses of data collected in the survey and implications for working wit h youth are summarized in this article. Major concerns identified included high prevalence rates of inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, unhealthful weight-control practices; and overweight status. For example, inadequate fruit intake was reported by 28% of the adolescents an d inadequate vegetable intake was reported by 36%. Among female adolescents , 12% reported chronic dieting, 30% reported binge eating, 12% reported sel f-induced vomiting, and 2% reported using diuretics or laxatives. Some of t he risk factors for inadequate food intake patterns or unhealthful weight-c ontrol practices included low socioeconomic status, minority status, chroni c illness, poor school achievement, low family connectedness, weight dissat isfaction, overweight, homosexual orientation among male adolescents, and u se of health-compromising behaviors. To improve adolescent eating behaviors , the results suggest a need for innovative outreach strategies that includ e educational and environmental approaches. Dietitians play a key role in d eveloping interventions and promoting research in the field of adolescent n utrition.