Nutritional Status and Its Impact on Academic Performance of Selected Grade 8 Students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the nutritional status, causes of malnutrition and its impact on the academic performance of Grade 8 Students with wasted and severely wasted BMI. The researcher used the descriptive - correlational research method which described the relationship between variables. Four (4) variables were used in this study such as poverty, health condition, eating habits, and illiteracy. The results showed that sometimes health condition and illiteracy are the contributing factors for malnutrition as evidenced by the average mean of 3.06 and 3.58 respectively. While most often, poverty and eating habits contributed to the causes of malnutrition. A negligible negative correlation existed between weight and academic performance based on the computed r value which was less than the tabular value of 0.349 at 5% level of significance. The obtained chi-square value between nutritional status and academic performance was found to be insignificant since the obtained chi-square value was less than the tabular value of 9.488 at 5% level of significance. Thus, the researcher recommends that continuing School-Based feeding program be strengthened. Further, it is also recommended to encourage the active involvement of parents, communities and local government in the implementation of intensified school nutrition program.