Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Adolescents in Marcory, Côte d'Ivoire: A School-based Cross-sectional Study
SINH Josi-Noelline
Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, Development and Well-Being, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Bioprocesses, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
TANOH Somala Tatiana *
Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Bioprocesses, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Sidonie Mahougnon KIKI DJIVOH
Sport, Health and Evaluation Research Unit, National Institute for Youth, Physical Education and Sport. University of Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin and National Institute of Youth, Physical Education and Sport, University of Abomey-Calavi, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin.
GOUTHON Gilchrist Fabrice
Laboratory for Research and Expertise in Sport, Education, and Social Interventions for Development. National Institute for Youth, Physical Education, and Sport. University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin and Center for Studies and Research in Education and Social Interventions for Development, National Institute for Youth, Physical Education and Sport. University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
M’BRO lasm Ivan Hervé Défienne
Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, Development and Well-Being, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Abidjan, Ivory Coast .
GONNETY Tia Jean
Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Bioprocesses, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
KOUAME Lucien Patrice
Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Bioprocesses, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Adolescence is a period of growth and physiological transformation that requires nutritional intake tailored to specific needs. However, with the expansion of the food industry, teenagers are exposed to high consumption of processed foods, which could cause health problems.
Study Design: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the nutritional status and eating habits of students in a high school.
Place and Duration of Study: this study was conducted at Victor Amangou high school in Marcory, Abidjan district, during the school year between November 2022 and April 2023.
Methodology: The study was conducted with 418 students aged 12 to 18 from the Amagou Victor Modern High School in Marcory. The students' eating habits was determined with a structured, pretested questionnaire. Nutritional status was determined after calculating the body mass index which was related to the corpulence curve, taking into account gender and age.
Results: The average BMI was 20.27 ± 4.29 kg/m². Students of normal weight represented 77% of the respondents. Conversely, underweight, overweight, and obese students represented 11%, 7.2%, and 4.8% of the students surveyed, respectively. Students' eating habits were low because 98.6% of them had a low dietary diversity score, 62.0% had low frequency of meals.
Conclusion: It is therefore necessary to conduct awareness campaigns on healthy eating, eating habits, and physical activity among students.
Keywords: Nutritional status, eating habits, body mass index, students, Côte d’Ivoire