ABSTRACT
Unhealthy dietary pattern, a decline in energy expenditure associated with a sedentary lifestyle, together with tobacco use are among the major risk factors for diet related chronic non-communicable diseases and pose an increasing challenge to public health
Objectives: Investigate some health aspects of adolescents to: assess eating practices, investigate physical activity pattern and study smoking status, study of electrolytes among school adolescents
Methodology: A representative national sample of preparatory and secondary schools students were the subjects of the study. Schools were randomly selected so that school type, sex and urban/rural residence were adequately representative. The number of schools investigated was 98 schools. Three specially designed questionnaires had been used to collect data on modifiable lifestyle related health factors [dietary practices; food habits for 7340 participants] and meal pattern [for 2161 participants], physical activity [for 8492 participants] and smoking [for 8495 participants]]. Scoring system was used for dietary and physical activity practices, each was given 12 points. Grading score was divided into three levels [0-4 poor, 5-8 needs improvement and 9-12 good]. Serum calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium were determined for 464 participants. Results: Dietary behaviors score among all adolescents was more toward the poor grade [41.6%]. Females showed higher percentage of poor category than males [44.6% and 38.6%] respectively. Second category [needs improvement] percentage was 58.9% among males and 52.1% among females. Only 3% of participants achieved the highest category [good]. Generally no statistical difference was found between urban and rural adolescents, whereas males showed more positive dietary behaviors than females. Majority of schools [90.5%] serve items high in saturated fat and calories in the form of chips, karate, bakeries, cakes and biscuits. About 55.95% of the schools serve soft drinks and readymade juices [high in calories]. Milk and milk products are served by only 13.0% of schools, while vegetables and fruits have no place in school canteens. The mean physical activity score for adolescents was [7.73+/-1.98] out of 12 [more towards the upper level of needs improvement category]. Overall, adolescents were generally in the category [needs improvement] for physical activity practices [57.7%], about 37.0% of the sample had a grade of good physical activity behavior. Exposure to second hand smoking is very high among adolescents [71.2%]. Percent of those reporting being tobacco user was 7.0%. Almost 32.3% of the sample had low calcium level. Low magnesium level had been found in 19.4%. Potassium low level had been found in 19.2%. Only 7.1 % showed high sodium level
Conclusion and recommendations: Adolescents lifestyle urges for promotion. An obesogenic environment surrounds adolescent's needs attention and modification