UNM's Prevention Research Center and the Rio Grande Institute's Journal Club Series presents "Why Healthy Eating is Bad for Young People's Health: Identity, Belonging and Food," by Patty Keane on Tuesday, June 21 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Research Incubator Building (RIB) Commons located at 2703 Frontier NE.

From the article published in Social Science & Medicine in 2011, Keane will discuss adolescent eating behavior interventions and research tend to neglect the emotional, social and symbolic aspects of food for young people, and the roles food might play in adolescence.

This research reports findings from a qualitative study in the United Kingdom which explored the meanings and values young people attach to food choices, particularly in school and peer contexts. Findings suggest that the meanings associated with healthy eating conflict with processes and values which are of crucial importance in adolescence, such as self-image and fitting in with the peer group. We will discuss this work as well as its implications for prevention research and health promotion interventions for youth in New Mexico.

This presentation is sponsored by the New Mexico Prevention Research Center – funded by CDC Prevention Research Office. For more information contact Shiraz Mishra at 505-272-4462 or by e-mail, smishra@salud.unm.edu.