Researchers in Indonesia studied whether a healthy eating program called Aksi Bergizi actually changed what teenagers eat. They compared 253 students who participated in the program with 253 students who didn’t. Students in the program were less likely to eat lots of meat and processed foods, which is good. However, they were surprisingly more likely to drink sugary beverages and eat snacks. The program did boost students’ confidence about making healthy food choices, but that confidence didn’t directly change their eating habits. This research shows the program has mixed results and suggests it may need improvements.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does a school-based healthy eating education program called Aksi Bergizi actually change what teenagers choose to eat?
  • Who participated: 506 secondary school students in Padang, Indonesia—253 students from schools running the Aksi Bergizi program and 253 from schools without the program. All students completed surveys about their eating habits.
  • Key finding: Students in the program ate less processed meat and junk food (40% vs 54%), which is positive. But they also drank more sugary drinks and ate more snacks (79% vs 40%), which is concerning. The program made students feel more confident about healthy eating, but this confidence didn’t actually change what they ate.
  • What it means for you: If you’re involved in school nutrition programs, this suggests that teaching students to feel confident about healthy eating isn’t enough—the program also needs to address why students still choose sugary drinks and snacks despite feeling confident. The mixed results suggest the program needs adjustment.

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a snapshot study at one point in time, comparing two groups of students: those attending schools with the Aksi Bergizi program and those at schools without it. All students completed a written survey that asked detailed questions about what they ate and drank over the past week, including how often they had meat, processed foods, snacks, sugary drinks, fruits, and vegetables. The researchers also asked students how confident they felt about making healthy food choices.

The study used a food frequency questionnaire, which is a standard tool that asks people to report how often they eat specific foods. This method helps researchers identify eating patterns—groups of foods that people tend to eat together. The researchers identified three main eating patterns: one focused on meat and processed foods, another on snacks and sugary drinks, and a third on healthier options like soy products and fresh fruits.

The researchers then analyzed whether students in the program schools had different eating patterns compared to students in non-program schools, and whether students’ confidence about healthy eating explained any differences they found.

This research approach is important because it shows real-world results of a government health program in actual schools. Rather than testing the program in a controlled laboratory setting, researchers looked at whether it worked in everyday school environments. However, because this is a snapshot study rather than following students over time, researchers can only show that differences exist between the two groups—they cannot prove that the program caused those differences.

The study’s main strength is that it used a large sample of students (506 total) and compared similar groups. However, readers should know that this is a snapshot study, which means it shows what students reported at one moment in time rather than tracking changes over months or years. Students may have answered questions in ways they thought researchers wanted (social desirability bias). The study was conducted only in one city in Indonesia, so results may not apply to other regions or countries with different food cultures and program implementations.

What the Results Show

Students in Aksi Bergizi schools were significantly less likely to follow the ‘High Protein and Processed Foods’ eating pattern—40% of program students versus 54% of non-program students. This means the program appeared to reduce how often students ate processed meats, fatty foods, and desserts. The difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance.

However, there was an unexpected and concerning finding: students in the program schools were much more likely to follow the ‘Snacks and Sugary Drinks’ pattern—79% versus 40% in non-program schools. This means program students reported drinking more sugary beverages and eating more snacks, which contradicts the program’s healthy eating goals.

Regarding the ‘Healthier Diet’ pattern (eating soy products and fresh fruits while avoiding preserved vegetables), program students were somewhat more likely to follow this pattern, but the difference was not large enough to be statistically significant.

When researchers looked at whether students’ confidence about making healthy choices explained the differences, they found that program students did feel significantly more confident about healthy eating. However, this confidence didn’t actually predict whether students followed healthier eating patterns. In other words, feeling confident didn’t translate into actually eating better.

The study revealed that dietary self-efficacy (confidence in making healthy food choices) was significantly different between the two groups—program students felt more confident. However, this increased confidence was not associated with actual dietary changes in the expected direction. This suggests that simply building confidence through education may not be sufficient to change eating behaviors, especially when other factors like taste preferences, peer influence, or food availability play a role.

This study adds to growing evidence that school-based nutrition education programs have mixed results. While some previous research shows that education can improve healthy eating, this study suggests that the relationship is more complex. The finding that students felt more confident but didn’t eat healthier aligns with other research showing that knowledge and confidence alone don’t always change behavior. The unexpected increase in sugary drink consumption among program students is particularly noteworthy and suggests that the program may need to specifically address beverages and snacks, which previous research indicates are major sources of excess sugar for adolescents.

This study has several important limitations. First, it’s a snapshot—researchers only collected data once, so they cannot prove the program caused the differences. Students in program schools might have been different to begin with. Second, students self-reported their eating habits, which can be inaccurate; they may have reported eating healthier foods than they actually did because they thought that’s what researchers wanted to hear. Third, the study was conducted only in Padang, Indonesia, so results may not apply to other cities or countries. Fourth, the researchers didn’t measure other important factors that influence eating, like family income, food availability at home, or peer pressure. Finally, the study didn’t track students over time, so we don’t know if any changes would last or if students would maintain new habits.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, the Aksi Bergizi program shows promise in reducing processed food consumption but needs improvement in addressing sugary drinks and snacks. Schools implementing similar programs should: (1) Include specific strategies to reduce sugary beverage consumption, not just general healthy eating messages; (2) Recognize that building confidence alone isn’t enough—programs need to address practical barriers to healthy eating; (3) Monitor actual food choices, not just attitudes. Confidence level: Moderate—this is one study with limitations, so results should be confirmed with additional research.

School administrators and health educators should care about these findings because they suggest current approaches need adjustment. Parents of teenagers should know that school nutrition programs may have mixed effects and that home environment and family eating habits remain important. Policymakers considering nutrition programs should use these results to improve program design. Teenagers themselves should understand that feeling confident about healthy eating is a good start, but actually choosing healthier foods requires addressing real barriers like taste, convenience, and peer influence. This research is less relevant to adults or younger children.

Changes in eating habits typically take weeks to months to become noticeable. However, this study suggests that even with a school program in place, significant dietary changes may not occur quickly. Students might feel more confident about healthy eating within weeks, but actual behavior change could take several months or longer, especially for foods like sugary drinks that students may strongly prefer.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily beverage choices specifically: record the number of sugary drinks (soda, sweetened juice, energy drinks) versus water or unsweetened beverages consumed each day. This addresses the study’s finding that program students unexpectedly increased sugary drink consumption despite the program.
  • Set a specific, measurable goal like ‘Replace one sugary drink with water each day’ or ‘Eat a piece of fresh fruit as a snack instead of processed snacks three times this week.’ Use the app to log these choices and receive reminders, since the research suggests that confidence alone isn’t enough—users need concrete behavioral strategies.
  • Use the app to track eating patterns weekly rather than daily to identify trends. Create a simple food frequency log similar to what researchers used in this study—record how often you eat processed foods, snacks, sugary drinks, and healthier options like fruits and vegetables. Review patterns monthly to see if your eating habits are actually changing, not just your confidence about them.

This research describes one study conducted in Indonesia and shows mixed results from a school nutrition program. The findings cannot prove that the program caused the observed differences in eating habits. Individual results may vary based on age, location, family environment, and other factors. Before making significant dietary changes, especially for teenagers, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice. If you have concerns about a teenager’s diet or nutrition, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.