Assessment of Eating Habits of Adolescents Body Mass Index Percentile at Secondary School in Najaf Governorate

Abstract

Objective: to assess and find out association between the eating habits and adolescents BMI percentile atsecondary school.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 537 adolescents (270 boys and 267 girls) aged12-15 years selected by means of a multistage stratified random sampling technique.Results: according to the body mass index; underweight was (6.7), normal weight was (61.5), overweightwas (9.5) and obesity was (22.3). (75%) of adolescents have a healthy eating habits while more than twothird of adolescents do not consumed fruits and vegetables.Recommendation: Intervention programs focusing on promoting changes in lifestyles, food habits andincreasing physical activity need to be implemented at the earliest stage of children life.