Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre alimentación y nutricion de los adolescentes de 4º y 5º año de educación media diversificada del municipio Libertador del estado Mérida, Venezuela

Abstract

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on food and nutrition of adolescents from 4th and 5th year of secondary education in Libertador County, Merida State, Venezuela. The objective was to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices on food and nutrition of adolescents in 4th and 5th year of secondary education in the Libertador County, Merida State, Venezuela. Methods: The sample consisted of 863 students from 14 to 19 years, we applied the Questionnaire on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) in food and nutrition, including personal habits, study, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and eating behavior disorders. Body mass index, visceral fat percentage and body, muscle mass percentage. Results: 77.4% have normal nutritional status. 36.6% body fat percentage high and very high. 62.5% have no knowledge of the term power, 88.8% reported that the most important meal of the day is breakfast, 66.3% of adolescents considered their appearance Normal, the 45.0% reported exclude diet foods: grains, fruits, and vegetables, 66.4% buy food at school / high school, mainly: “arepas”, empanadas, pastries, “tequenos” bread. 44.1% indicated that consume foods, 26.4% report using alcohol, 81.3% of adolescents indicate that consumed food outside their homes, practicing light and moderate physical activity. The most used media for information on nutritional aspects were the TV and the Internet. It is confirmed that there is a low teaching of healthy eating habits in high schools or colleges, and the existence of risk factors for overweight and obesity, high consumption of fast food, food consumption in high schools or colleges and out the home.