Health Education for Promoting Healthy Eating Habits and Preventing Nutrition-Related Diseases: A Technopedagogical Research Study

Abstract

Health education is a central component of child development and a powerful determinant of long-term well- being. It enables children to develop informed decision-making skills, acquire healthy habits, and understand the role of nutri- tion in disease prevention. However, in many Latin American regions, socioeconomic limitations, restricted access to health services, and insufficient school education contribute to persis- tent malnutrition, rising childhood obesity, and poor dietary habits. The present complete research study examines the relationship between eating behaviors of children, awareness of nutrition, and literacy in disease-prevention within a frame- work of health education supported by digital technologies. The empirical study draws on data from a sample of 123 school-age children, applying descriptive statistics, tetrachoric correlations, exploratory factor analysis, and a two-step cluster analysis. The results reveal striking gaps in dietary practices: 57% of children report a high intake of processed foods, 69.9% do not consume the recommended portions of fruits and vegetables, 65.0% regularly drink sugary beverages, and 84.6% do not recognize the connection between nutrition and disease prevention. However, 90.2% express a strong interest in learning healthy habits, highlighting a significant opportunity for intervention. Based on these findings, the ar- ticle proposes a technopedagogical model to strengthen health education through digital storytelling, interactive resources, mobile applications, and school-based learning analytics. Re- cent evidence demonstrates that digital learning can increase motivation, improve understanding, and support the adoption of healthy behaviors, especially in contexts with limited access to preventive care. The discussion integrates public health literature, nutrition science, and digital pedagogy to present implications for curriculum design, teacher training, and com- munity engagement. This study combines empirical evidence with a theory-driven framework to demonstrate how digitally supported health education can promote healthy eating habits and reduce the long-term risk of chronic diseases among schoolchildren.