[[alternative]]A Study on the Influential Factors and Status of Low-Fat Dietary Behavior of the High School in Taipei County

[[abstract]]The purpose of this study is to investigate the current low-fat dietary behavior of high school students, and to examine the relationships between low-fat dietary behavior and selected demographic characteristics, as well as knowledge, outcome expectancy, social support, self-efficacy, media impact. The study consisted of 325 subjects who were select by using random sampling method from high school in Taipei county. A questionnaire, developed by the author of the study, was used to gather data in Dec 2003-Jan 2004. T-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson’s product-moment correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyze the data and results indicated as follow: 1. The knowledge about low-fat diet in the subjects was medium to low degree. Departments degree significantly difference the knowledge of low-fat diet. 2. The subjects’ outcome expectancy about low-fat diet was low. Departments, perception of body-weight and family income social status significantly difference the outcome expectancy of low-fat diet. 3. The subjects’ social support about low-fat diet was medium to low degree and family social support was higher than friends’ support. 4. The subjects’ self-efficacy about low-fat diet was difficult . 5. Most saw media impact as medium to low degree. The information was mainly from television and magazine. Over 1:2 subjects would try it. 6. The subjects’ low-fat dietary behavior was medium to low degree. The low-fat dietary behaviors were significant correlated with sex, perception of body-weight, taste, social support, self-efficacy and media reports. 7. The related variables explained 24.8% of low-fat dietary behavior ; the important predictors were taste, social support and self-efficacy of low-fat dietary behavior. The most influential factor is social support. Base on results, this study suggests that school could guide the students to the correct dietary concept by teaching the low-fat dietary, especially the boys. Then strengthen outcome expectancy, social support, self-efficacy and take care the media impact of low-fat dietary behavior. For future deepened study could be conducted in expanded areas like different cities in different seasons.