Zikhri Jumaydi, Aulia Rahma Dinda, Dela Melani, Felicia Putri Intani, Hanifah Amaliah, Rahayu Annisa Fitri, Rana Roidah Trianti, Roja Nadila, Saltsabillah Muzaidan, Ulfa Shilaisna

Education on Limiting Sugar Consumption as an Effort to Maintain Balanced Nutrition in Adolescents at SMP N 51 Pekanbaru

Introduction

Education on limiting sugar consumption as an effort to maintain balanced nutrition in adolescents at smp n 51 pekanbaru. Empower adolescents at SMP N 51 Pekanbaru to limit sugar intake for balanced nutrition. Discover how education improves knowledge & attitudes on healthy sugar consumption.

Abstract

Adolescents tend to consume more sugar than other age groups. The habit of consuming sweet drinks needs special attention in public health considering its significant contribution to increasing blood sugar levels and body weight, including adolescents at SMP N 51 Pekanbaru. The purpose of community service is to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of adolescents at SMP N 51 Pekanbaru in limiting sugar consumption as an effort to maintain balanced nutrition. Community service activities are carried out by providing education through lecture methods using power points . Educational activities result in an increase in the level of knowledge and attitudes in limiting sugar consumption, while there is no increase in actions in limiting sugar consumption after being given education, this occurs because of the difficulty in conducting counseling outdoors because the power point displayed cannot be seen clearly by all participants .

Review

The paper addresses a highly relevant and critical public health issue: excessive sugar consumption among adolescents and its impact on balanced nutrition. The focus on SMP N 51 Pekanbaru provides a specific context for intervention, which is commendable. Given the pervasive nature of sweet drinks and sugary foods in adolescent diets, efforts to educate this demographic on limiting sugar intake are both timely and necessary. The stated objective of improving knowledge, attitudes, and actions aligns well with a comprehensive approach to behavioral change. A notable strength of this community service initiative lies in its demonstrated success in increasing the knowledge and improving the attitudes of the participating adolescents regarding sugar consumption limits. The use of a lecture method with PowerPoint presentations, while facing some practical challenges, proved effective in imparting critical information and shifting perspectives. Achieving improvements in knowledge and attitudes are foundational steps towards sustainable behavioral change and represent a positive outcome of the educational intervention, underscoring the potential for school-based programs to influence health literacy. However, a significant limitation identified in the abstract is the failure to translate improved knowledge and attitudes into actual changes in actions related to limiting sugar consumption. The stated reason—difficulties with outdoor counseling and poor visibility of the PowerPoint—highlights a critical flaw in the implementation strategy. For future interventions, it is imperative to address these logistical challenges by ensuring an appropriate learning environment, employing diverse and interactive educational methods (e.g., practical demonstrations, taste tests, interactive workshops), and integrating long-term follow-up to assess sustained behavioral change. Furthermore, strategies to overcome external environmental factors and peer influence, which strongly impact adolescent food choices, should be considered for a more comprehensive and effective intervention.

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