Food Habits Of Adolescents In Selected Secondary School In Urban And Rural Areas In Umuahia North Local Government Area

ABSTRACT

The food habits of 329 adolescents randomly selected from X secondary schools from urban and rural areas in Umuahia North LOa1 government Areas in Abia State Nigeria were investigated. Data on their food habits was obtained by means of questionnaire. The nutritional status of these adolescents was assessed by anthroPOilletric measure eflCflt and observed clinical signs of malnutrition. The study showed that 91.2% of the adolescents investigated cat in between meals, 29.8% consumed alcohol while 19.6% skip meals occasionally. Locatable and. availability of food were found to be the major factors a adolescents' food habits On the whole, it was foun4  56.$% the ado1escnts were  malnourished, 35.3% ,re il pile 6.7% were severely malnourished and 1 .2% were about 9.7% cases 01 stunting were observed, 14.6% cases  and 6.6% cases of  were also observed. Another nutritional problem among the ado1escjns rural adolescent boys was angular stomatitis (9.7%). However more cases were found in the rural area (16.3%) as opposed to [lie urban area (5.2%). The significance of these findings in improving nutritional status was discussed.