[Deficient education in health and nutrition in Mexican schools: the topic of salt].

Objective: Given the rapidly increasing rates of adult chronic diseases in Mexico there is a need to assess the knowledge and understanding of these sufferings in relation to an inadequate diet.

Material And Methods: In a randomly selected sample of primary, secondary and high schools in a region of Mexico City, the knowledge of the dietary contributors to chronic disease was assessed by taking the specific example of salt and the knowledge of its importance. Participation encompassed: 1504 students, 890 parents and 27 teachers.

School food in Mexican children.

Objective: To establish the school eating habits of Mexican children, who are prone to obesity and later to high rates of adult chronic diseases.

Design: Questionnaires for students and parents with staff questionnaires and interviews.

Setting: Randomly sampled schools in a socio-economically representative district of Mexico City.