ASSESSMENT OF ANTHROPOMETRIC OUTCOME, DIETARY DIVERSITY AND FOOD ENVIRONMENT OF ADOLESCENTS ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OWERRI METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the Assessment of anthropometric Outcome, Dietary Diversity and Food Environment of Adolescents Attending Secondary School in Owerri Metropolis. Four research objectives were formulated to guide the study. A cross sectional designed was employed. Multistage sampling was used to determine the sample size of one hundred and ninety (190) subjects study from the target population of 360 students. Eligible students attending these schools, aged 10-19, living in the study area and who gave their signed consent were included in the study. Data collection was done through a well- structured and validated questionnaire eliciting information on socioeconomic characteristics, dietary pattern, 24hours dietary recall and anthropometric indices. Information obtained was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS Version 20) to provide descriptive Information (percentage, mean ± SD) for all the study variables. Results showed that 72.1% of the subjects were aged 14-17years which were recommended age for adolescents. Majority of the subjects were Christian (94.2%) and of Igbo ethnicity with most of their parents having SSCE as their highest form of education. Dietary pattern of subjects showed that most subjects had their meals soured from home, however 52.6% skipped meals due to lack of money and weight management as a results majority (85.8%) consumed snacks. BMI results showed that 14.2% of the respondents were underweight, 76.3% were normal while 9.5 were obese. On nutritional knowledge, most majority (99.5%) inclined to healthy food eating habits as they felt good about the way they ate food owing to the fact that more than half (75.3%) subjects had nutritional information on the food they ate. Fast foods were mostly places were subjects had immediate consumption of foods in their environment with availability of salad, fresh fruits and juices as factors affecting their choices. The study therefore showed that adolescents in Owerri metropolis have good nutritional status in respect to their Body Mass Index which in turn will improve their academic performance even though their snacking habits calls for calls for intensification of nutrition education in the secondary schools in Owerri metropolis.