Abstract A044: Community-Based School Nutrition Education Promotes Cancer-Preventive Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Dietary Intentions Among Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents in underserved communities experience disproportionately high rates of obesity, metabolic disease, and diet related cancers, underscoring the need for equitable, community based cancer prevention strategies. Schools represent trusted community settings to deliver culturally relevant nutrition education that promotes lifelong healthy behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests that consuming fiber rich foods before refined carbohydrates ("fiber first") improves glycemic regulation, supports gut microbiome health, and reduces chronic inflammation, biologic pathways associated with cancer risk. We evaluated the effectiveness of an interactive school based nutrition education intervention in improving nutrition knowledge and healthy dietary intentions among adolescents. Sixth grade students (N=120) from two socioeconomically diverse urban middle schools completed baseline surveys and were randomized to either an interactive nutrition education workshop or a control group. Developed as a community based health education intervention, the workshop incorporated hands on activities addressing macronutrients, food sequencing, gut microbiome health, blood glucose regulation, and the relationship between nutrition, inflammation, and chronic disease prevention. Control participants received a standard educational handout. Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and intended dietary behaviors were assessed at baseline, immediately post intervention, and six weeks later. Mean nutrition knowledge scores increased from 77.6% at baseline to 87.0% immediately following the intervention. Compared with controls, workshop participants demonstrated greater improvements in nutrition knowledge and intentions to adopt healthier eating behaviors. Students also reported improved understanding of consuming fiber rich foods before refined carbohydrates and stronger recognition of the relationships among diet, gut health, blood glucose regulation, inflammation, and chronic disease prevention. Six week follow up analyses evaluating knowledge retention and sustained behavioral intentions are ongoing and will be available at presentation. Community based school nutrition education is a feasible, scalable approach to improving nutrition literacy and promoting cancer preventive dietary behaviors among adolescents. By leveraging schools as trusted community partners, this intervention has the potential to reduce nutrition related health disparities through equitable access to evidence based health education and to support long term chronic disease and cancer prevention in underserved populations. Jaya Sarin Pradhan, Kayla Lavelle, Riya Patel, Milana Ward, Christie Custodio-Lumsden. Community-Based School Nutrition Education Promotes Cancer-Preventive Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Dietary Intentions Among Adolescents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 19th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2026 Oct 18-21; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2026;35(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A044.