The Effectiveness of Using Bilingual Infographics (English-Indonesian) in Improving Balanced Nutrition Knowledge in Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical growth phase vulnerable to nutritional problems due to changing dietary patterns. The primary challenge in nutrition education is the availability of media that can attract adolescents' interest while delivering messages effectively. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using bilingual infographics (English-Indonesian) in increasing knowledge of a balanced diet among adolescents at State Islamic Senior High School 2 Pekanbaru. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and post-test design. The population in this study were students of State Islamic Senior High School 2 Pekanbaru, with the sampling technique using total sampling, which resulted in 115 respondents who met the inclusion criteria. Research variables included the level of balanced diet knowledge, individual characteristics (age and gender), and nutritional status based on anthropometry (Weight/Height). The data collection tool used a structured questionnaire regarding balanced nutrition guidelines. Data were analyzed statistically using the Paired T-test at a 95% confidence level. Results: The results showed that the majority of respondents were 16 years old (53.0%) and male (56.5%). Most respondents had a normal nutritional status (67.8%), but overweight (19.1%) and obese (8.7%) groups were found. Knowledge analysis showed an increase in the mean value from 12.59 to 12.91. Statistical tests yielded a p-value of 0.007 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant difference in respondents' knowledge after receiving the intervention. The largest increase occurred in the understanding of the balanced nutrition pillar regarding diverse food consumption (from 55.7% to 76.5%).  Conclusion: The use of bilingual infographic media is significantly effective in increasing balanced diet knowledge in adolescents. This dual-language visual media can be an adaptive and communicative health education instrument to support the improvement of students' dietary patterns in the school environment.