Determination of Nutrition and Physical Activity Status of Early Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Anatolian Side of Istanbul

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional and physical activity statuses of adolescents and to examine the relationship between their nutritional and physical activity levels and anthropometric measurements. The sample of this study was composed of 2.000 students from 20 secondary schools in Istanbul, Turkey. The physical activity levels were also examined using the survey, food consumption levels were determined by applying the 24-h Dietary Recall. The height and weight were measured and evaluated by World Health Organization (WHO) growth references. Among the male students (n = 888), 50.9% were normal weighted, 25.8% were overweight, 19.2% were obese, and 2.2% were severely obese. The percentage of those who were normal weight was higher (65.5%) among the female adolescents (n = 852), and 21.8% of the females were overweight, 10.2% were obese, and 0.9% were severely obese. The differences in terms of intake values of all food items were found to be statistically significant (p < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the food consumption of male and female adolescents in terms of the level of intake of macronutrients. Children and adolescents need to be provided an adequate, balanced nutrition and physical activity to help them grow and develop healthily.