Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran

Background — Healthy nutrition is crucial in preventing obesity and noncommunicable diseases, as well as for the physical growth and optimal health. This study investigates the factors influencing the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran. Methods — Using proportional...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reza Faryabi, Reza Pournarani, Hadi Alizadeh Siuki, Moradali Zareipour, Salman Daneshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Limited liability company «Science and Innovations» (Saratov) 2025-03-01
Series:Russian Open Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://romj.org/node/601
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849697135357853696
author Reza Faryabi
Reza Pournarani
Hadi Alizadeh Siuki
Moradali Zareipour
Salman Daneshi
author_facet Reza Faryabi
Reza Pournarani
Hadi Alizadeh Siuki
Moradali Zareipour
Salman Daneshi
author_sort Reza Faryabi
collection DOAJ
description Background — Healthy nutrition is crucial in preventing obesity and noncommunicable diseases, as well as for the physical growth and optimal health. This study investigates the factors influencing the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran. Methods — Using proportional stratified random sampling, this cross-sectional (descriptive and analytical) study was performed on primary school students of Southern Iran. The data collection instrument included a questionnaire comprising demographic information, information on healthy snack consumption, and questions on individual, family, and social factors affecting healthy snack consumption. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20 software. Results — A total of 388 students participated in the study; 57% were girls, approximately 55% were urban residents. The most significant predictors of healthy snack consumption were friends’ snack choice (β=-0.342), daily allowance size (β=-0.255), having a younger school-age sibling (β=-0.185), and being taught healthy food choices at school (β=0.176). Conclusion — Individual student preferences and the behavior of family members, peers, school administrators, and snack vendors can be effective in influencing healthy snack choices. Therefore, educational and non-educational interventions at the social level, especially at school, are needed.
format Article
id doaj-art-1bbf91ae780948a6b05a4ca086d30694
institution DOAJ
issn 2304-3415
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Limited liability company «Science and Innovations» (Saratov)
record_format Article
series Russian Open Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-1bbf91ae780948a6b05a4ca086d306942025-08-20T03:19:17ZengLimited liability company «Science and Innovations» (Saratov)Russian Open Medical Journal2304-34152025-03-01141e010310.15275/rusomj.2025.0103Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern IranReza FaryabiReza PournaraniHadi Alizadeh SiukiMoradali ZareipourSalman DaneshiBackground — Healthy nutrition is crucial in preventing obesity and noncommunicable diseases, as well as for the physical growth and optimal health. This study investigates the factors influencing the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran. Methods — Using proportional stratified random sampling, this cross-sectional (descriptive and analytical) study was performed on primary school students of Southern Iran. The data collection instrument included a questionnaire comprising demographic information, information on healthy snack consumption, and questions on individual, family, and social factors affecting healthy snack consumption. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20 software. Results — A total of 388 students participated in the study; 57% were girls, approximately 55% were urban residents. The most significant predictors of healthy snack consumption were friends’ snack choice (β=-0.342), daily allowance size (β=-0.255), having a younger school-age sibling (β=-0.185), and being taught healthy food choices at school (β=0.176). Conclusion — Individual student preferences and the behavior of family members, peers, school administrators, and snack vendors can be effective in influencing healthy snack choices. Therefore, educational and non-educational interventions at the social level, especially at school, are needed.https://romj.org/node/601obesitystudentssouthern iranhealthy snack
spellingShingle Reza Faryabi
Reza Pournarani
Hadi Alizadeh Siuki
Moradali Zareipour
Salman Daneshi
Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
Russian Open Medical Journal
obesity
students
southern iran
healthy snack
title Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
title_full Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
title_fullStr Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
title_full_unstemmed Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
title_short Factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of Southern Iran
title_sort factors affecting the choice of healthy snacks in primary school students of southern iran
topic obesity
students
southern iran
healthy snack
url https://romj.org/node/601
work_keys_str_mv AT rezafaryabi factorsaffectingthechoiceofhealthysnacksinprimaryschoolstudentsofsoutherniran
AT rezapournarani factorsaffectingthechoiceofhealthysnacksinprimaryschoolstudentsofsoutherniran
AT hadializadehsiuki factorsaffectingthechoiceofhealthysnacksinprimaryschoolstudentsofsoutherniran
AT moradalizareipour factorsaffectingthechoiceofhealthysnacksinprimaryschoolstudentsofsoutherniran
AT salmandaneshi factorsaffectingthechoiceofhealthysnacksinprimaryschoolstudentsofsoutherniran