Eating habits of secondary school students in Erbil city

Abstract

Background:  Adolescence are assuming responsibility for their own eating habits, changes in eating habits between 15 and 18 years were very slight, or obese.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the eating habits of adolescent students of secondary school. 

Methodology: A cross – sectional survey study were carried out in three public Arabic secondary schools, (two schools for boys and one for girl) in Erbil city in the 1^st /February/ 2011 to 30^th / March / 2011. A systematic sample size of 461 students was selected.

Results: Total number of students was 461; majority (96.6%) of students was normal weight. The mean age ± standard deviation was 16.34 ± 1.36. Male students that are overweight were constituted only 3.4% of the total students. Adolescents having three meals per day are more overweight than those did not have it; those who have food between meals were less overweight than they did not have it. Snacking and light meal consumption was less among study subjects. Eating fruits daily were more common among overweight students than others. Adolescents drinking milk and eating milk products daily's were more overweight than they did not, while drinking soft drinks are less overweight than those did not. Eating fatty food last 30 days more abandon among overweight students than others.

Conclusion: This study was able to identify the eating behaviors of a sample of Arabian secondary school students in Erbil city. Much more representative sample should be taken with concentration on interviewing techniques in the future works.