ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to assess the food habits and anthropometric status of adolescent secondary school students in Okposi Development Center, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. A cross sectional survey was adopted. Three hundred and fifteen (312) respondents were randomly selected from the four schools (152 from government school and 160 from private). Three hundred and fourty six (346) pre-tested and validated questionnaire was used to obtain information’s on food habit from the respondents. Anthropometric characteristics were used to determine the nutritional status of the respondents. These includes weight (kg), height (m²), body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 package. Respondents socio-economic characteristics revealed that (43.8% and 40%) of adolescents from both private and government schools, respectively receives less than two hundred naira (#200) as pocket money from their parents weekly, (20% and 18.8%) receives between five hundred and a thousand naira (#501-#1000) whereas (10% and 6.3%) receives more than one thousand naira from both government and private schools respectively. (43.9%) of the respondents parents earn less than twenty thousand naira (#20,000) monthly, 31.4% earns twenty to fifty thousand naira whereas (18.9%) earns fifty thousand one to eighty thousand naira (#50, 001 - #80,000) while the lesser percentage (6.4%) earn above eighty thousand naira. Lunch was the most skipped meal by the respondents, whereas results showed that (41.4 % and 38.8%) from government and private school respectively ate breakfast 5-6 times weekly. Results on BMI showed that (67.8% and 73.1%) adolescents of both government and private schools were normal. However, 15.8% and 20.0% were underweight, 10.5% and 4.4% were overweight while 6.6% and 2.5% of both government and private were obesed respectively. Mid-upper arm (MUAC) result showed that (22.37% and 17.5%) were moderately malnourished (MAM), (67.76% and 78.75%) were normal whereas (9.87% and 6.17%) of the respondents in both government and private schools were severely malnourished. Monotony of foods was found to be common in the study area. Garri/ soup, rice and yam were the highest foods consumed by the adolescents. This study also revealed that availability of food in the home determines adolescents intake.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLE'S vii
LIST OF FIGURES viii
ABSTRACTS ix
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study 4
1.2 Statement of the problem 6
1.3 Objectives of the study 6
1.3.1 General objective of the study 6
1.3.2 Specific objectives of the study 6
1.4 Significance of the study 6
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.1 Adolescence 8
2.2 Food habits and nutritional needs of adolescents 10
2.2.1 Food habits and age 14
2.2. 2 Food habits and gender 15 2.2.3 Food habits and socioeconomic status 16
2.2.4 Food habits and physical activity 18 2. 3 Factors that influences food habits of adolescents 20
2.3.1 Socioeconomic factors 20
2.3.2 Nutrition knowledge 21
2.3.3 Ethnicity/ culture 21
2.3.4 Religious influences 22
2.3.5 Food availability and access 22
2.4 Anthropometric measurements 23
2.4.1 Weight (wt) 26
2.4.2 Height (ht) 27
2.4.3 Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) 28
2.4.4 Body mass index (BMI) 30
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS 33
3.1 Study designs 33
3.2 Area of study 33
3.3 Population of the study 33
3.4 Sampling and sampling techniques 34
3.4.1 Sample size 34
3.4.2 Sampling procedure 35
3.5 Preliminary activities 36
3.5.1 Preliminary visits 36
3.5.2 Training of research assistants 36
3.6 Data collection 36
3.6.1 Questionnaire administration 36
3.6.2 Anthropometric measurements 37
3.7 Data analysis 38
3.8 Statistical analysis 38
CHAPTER 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 39
4.1 Socio-economic characteristics of the adolescents 41
4.2 Socio-economic characteristics of the parents 41
4.3 Food habits of the respondents 45
4.4 Twenty - four (24) hour dietary recall of the adolescents 49
4.5 Food consumption and snacking pattern of the adolescents 55
4.6 Food consumption frequency of the adolescent 58
4.7 Fruits and vegetable consumption of the adolescents 62
4.8 Anthropometric status of the adolescents 65
4.8.1 Mid-upper arm circumference of the respondents 68
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 69
5.1 Conclusion 69
5.2 Recommendations 70
REFERENCES 71
APPENDIX 86
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1: MUAC cut off for adolescent 29
Table 2.2 Boys BMI for Age 31
Table 2.3 Girls BMI for Age 32
Table 4.1: Socio-economic characteristics of the adolescents 41
Table 4.2: Socio-economic characteristics of the parents 44
Table 4.3: Food habits of the respondents 48
Table 4.4 Twenty four (24) hours dietary recall 49
Table 4.5: Food consumption and snacking pattern of the adolescents 57
Table 4.6 Food Consumption Frequency of the adolescent in Government and Private Schools 60
Table 4.7A: fruit and vegetable consumption of adolescents in the study area 62
Table 4.7B Fruit and Vegetable Frequency of the Adolescent in Government and private Schools 64
Table 4.8: Anthropometric Status of the respondents (Public School) 66
Table 4.8.1 Mid-upper arm circumference of the respondents 68
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig 1: Meal distribution among the government and private school students for breakfast 49
Fig 2: Meal distribution among the Government and private school students for dinner 50
Fig 3: Meal distribution among the government and private school students for mid-afternoon 51
Fig 4: Meal distribution among the government and private school students for lunch dietary recall 52
Fig 5: Meal distribution among the school students for Mid-Morning 53
Fig 6: Meal distribution among government and private school students for Yesterday-Breadfast dietary recall. 54
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The issues of nutrition and dietary habits are timely because nutrition plays an important part among the external environmental factors that may impact the health of an individual or the entire nation. A special situation arises in adolescence due to greater physiological need for food of high nutritional value (Hainer et al., 2004; Parizkova et al., 2007).
Food habits comprises of a set of actions related to food, starting with the decision , availability, preparation, eating schedule, meals distribution in the household, and consumption (Matias et al., 2014). Most adolescents do not have adequate time to enjoy meals at home especially in the morning; (which is an influential meal that helps in academic performance and in-class behavior) as it is the peak and challenging time for most of them to arrive at school on time to avoid penalty. This makes them not have a balanced meal with their family on weekdays except in the evenings. However the food selection is based on the family budget, elders’ food preferences, food taboos, available food and time for cooking, sick people at home and nutrition knowledge of the family (Suriyaprabha et al., 2017).
World Health Organization (WHO) (2016) reported that healthy diet can have a significant effect on many of adolescents' by contributing to maintaining a healthy weight, improving physical and intellectual performance, optimizing growth and improving skin health. Therefore, monitoring the quality of the foods consumed during childhood and adolescence is important as little is known about the factors that promote changes in the eating behavior and as fasting, irregular and restricted diets, compulsive or frequent consumption of highly energetic foods, rich in sugar and fat are frequent to replace healthy food during this period (Francis et al., 2009; Leme et al., 2011). These practices are the main factors responsible for the current epidemiological situation of overweight, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, non-transmissible chronic illnesses and risk behaviors for eating disorders during childhood and adolescence (Fernandes et al., 2009; Brasil Ministério da Sade, 2012).
Anthropometry is the measurement of the human body. It is one of several approaches which also include biochemical, clinical, and dietary assessment, used to assess nutritional status. Anthropometry can help identify the types of malnutrition present in an individual or population and measure progress toward improvement. However, it does not identify specific nutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron or vitamin A deficiency), which must be assessed through other methods. Common anthropometric measurements used in development programs include height/length, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (Kristen and Lesley, 2018).
Dietary habits have changed considerably during a short period of time due to great economic development, with unhealthy foods becoming more accessible and also cheaper than healthy foods. This have lead to a great increase in consumption of unhealthy foods, and, in turn, a lot of undesirable health consequences causing a strong and growing concern from health governments and medical specialists (Brannon and Feist, 2007; WHO, 2004). Food choice in general is a complex process that depends on culture and can be influenced by different factors such as personal, social, economic and emotional factors. Adolescents make many more choices for themselves than they did as children. Moreover, since eating is a social act, social networks and family can affect their food choices. In addition, globalization is eroding traditional foods and offering more food choice and availability, all of which could influence their eating patterns (Hormone, 2013).
Attention is needed to ensure progress across the process, from development and sharing of good practices, to institutionalized, scaled-up implementation of effective measures. The European child and adolescent health strategy 2015–2020 highlights the need for sectors to collaborate to facilitate healthier food choices throughout the life-course. It acknowledges that overweight and obesity are among the fastest growing health issues for children and adolescents, creating health problems later in life and producing an economic burden on health systems and societies (WHO, 2013/2014).
Habits and knowledge acquired during adolescence period influences many aspects of adult life related to food, health, and psychosocial development preferences, among others. Thus, healthy eating habits during adolescence are crucial to a healthy productive and reproductive life and for the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases in adult life (Matias et al., 2014).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Food habits of adolescents are of great concern since this vulnerable group has higher energy and nutrient needs than an adult population. Unhealthy eating habits during childhood and adolescence such as skipping breakfast, excessive intake of fatty foods and highly processed foods are the main factors causing nutritional problems. unhealthy nutrition in this period increases the risk of severe disease in adulthood, for instance obesity (Suchindran et al., 2010; Pentz 2009), depression and anxiety disorders (Anderson et al., 2007), some types of cancer (Fuemmeler et al. , 2009; Lubin et al. , 2003) and cardiovascular risk symptoms (Reilly and Kelly, 2010; Ford et al., 2008).
Further, research supports that inadequate intake of calcium from dietary sources during childhood and adolescence may affect the achievement of bone mass, hence increase the risk of osteoporosis in adult age (Gillespie, 2006). Demory-Luce and Jensen (2009) explained that to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases, researchers have proposed that healthy eating behaviors should be established in childhood and maintained during adolescence. Research has also shown that as the individual enters adolescence, the dietary habits often get unhealthier (Rasmussen et al., 2006; Vereecken et al., 2005).
Research conducted in both Europe and the U.S shows that consumption of soft drink, fast food and sugar has increased, while the consumption of fruits and vegetables has decreased among adolescents during the last few years (Moreno et al., 2010). Furthermore, Population groups with low socioeconomic status may be more sensitive to changes in food and beverage prices and may not be able to afford to shop for healthy foods (Drewnowski, 2004). There is also increasing evidence that people in economically disadvantaged positions are subject to differential exposure to low-quality food and availability of high-quality food, as well as other barriers to adopting healthy behaviours (Blas and Kurup, 2010). Therefore, Understanding different factors which influence dietary habits of adolescents is the first step to forming efficient measures which may change their food habits (Cullen et al., 2000). Due to these problems, it is worth carrying out this research
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.3.1 General objective of the study
The general objective of this study is to evaluate the food habits and anthropometric status of adolescents secondary school students in Okposi Development Center Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
1.3.2 Specific objectives of the study
The specific objectives of this study are to;
1. Assess the socio-economic characteristics of adolescent secondary school students in okposi Ohaozara local government area, Ebonyi State.
2. assess the socio-economic characteristics of their parents
3. determine their dietary habits
4. determine their anthropometric status using weight, height, body mass index, and mid upper-arm circumference (MUAC).
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Findings from this research will have practical implications informing the students and the whole population at large the effects of unhealthy food habits and also healthier food habits and behavior, thereby improving adolescents’ dietary habit. This information will also have a bearing on the development of programmes to improve adolescent’s dietary habits and also benefit those in nutrition education by assisting them to target information appropriately, which in turn will lead to more effective health promotion.
This study will also be useful to the ministry of health, ministry of education and also help the Government of Ebonyi state and Federal Government to plan effective ways of improving food habits of adolescents in that locality and beyond, through incorporating nutrition studies in all secondary school syllabus and building canteen where healthy foods will be sold at affordable prices within the school premises and also delegating and sponsoring nutrition educators who will always go to schools to teach the students on healthy food consumption and practices.
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