Influence of life habits and behaviors on the health of adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To identify the influence of life habits and behaviors on the health of adolescents. Materials and method: This is a quantitative research, with an exploratory and descriptive approach, developed with 124 adolescents, students from a pre-professional school in southernmost Brazil. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics by means of the SPSS software, version 20.0. Results: The high consumption of ultra-processed food in intermediate meals and insufficient sleep hours per night cause risks to the health of adolescents. Practicing physical activities has proved to be a health protection habit. Conclusions: The adolescents need to reframe the importance of healthy eating and sleep in their routine. It was observed that there are modifiable factors for sleep improvement in quality and quantity, as well as the value and inclusion of in natura food in intermediate meals. We believe that the role of nurses in school spaces, giving rise to joint reflections on the process of self-care, health concepts, risky and healthy behaviors, is capable of promoting and protecting the health of adolescents and preventing morbidities in the future.