hábito alimentar, estado nutricional e percepção da imagem corporal de adolescentes

Eating habits, nutritional status and body image perceptions of adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To identify the eating habits, nutritional status and body image perceptions of adolescents. Methods: Cross
sectional prospective study of 126 adolescents in a government school. The variables studied were: eating habits (through a
questionnaire on food consumption frequency, meal types and eating places); nutritional status, based on Body Mass Index
and WHO growth curves (2007); and body image through impressions of weight (high, low or appropriate). Results: This
study encompassed 126 adolescents (12.5 to 18.8 years, 15 +1.5 years [mean ± SD]), 64 (50.8%) girls and 62 (49.2%) boys.
The following foods were eaten habitually: rice (95.2%), French bread (60.3%), beans (82.5%), fruit (60.3%), sweets and
candies (57.9%), chocolate drinks (53.2%), whole milk (57.9%), juice (61.1%) and carbonated soft drinks (50.8%). Most of
them (57.9%) ate three meals a day and were well nourished (74.6%), with 23% obese or overweight and 2.3% undernour
ished. Of the 29 classified as overweight and obese, 75.9% acknowledged their weight as inappropriate and 5.6% thought
it was appropriate, although weighing more than recommended. Conclusion: Most of the adolescents assessed had healthy
eating habits, although overindulging in sweets, with weak matches between body image and nutritional status.