An overview of adolescent eating behavior barriers to implementing dietary guidelines.

Adolescents continue to report food and nutrient intake and physical activity levels that conflict with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the Year 2000 objectives. Some of the barriers to healthier eating and exercise are related to factors within the adolescent's environment, such as access to healthy food choices or availability of preventive nutritional guidance as part of routine health care. Many barriers, though, fit into the theoretical framework that attempts to describe determinants of other risky behaviors of adolescents. These include (1) adolescent and peer subgroup norms that devalue healthy eating behavior; (2) participation in other risky behaviors; (3) low competency (actual and perceived) in sports, food selection, and food preparation; and (4) familial and cultural expectations. Implications were discussed for intervention approaches and policy recommendations that help confront these barriers.