DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2023.v11i05.021

Pages: 935-940

Introduction: Adolescence is a time of high nutrient demands because of rapid growth and development during puberty. It is also a time when individuals experience increasing control over their food choices and develop dietary habits that affect their weight status and extend into adulthood. Objective: To assess the Nutritional status and food habit among school going adolescent of Bangladesh. Methods: A community based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Savar Zilla School & Morning Glory School and College, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January to December 2022. A total of 100 students belonging to 8th, 9th and 10th classes participated. Information were collected regarding socio- demographic features and main eating habits from 10-19 years girls who were willing to participate and had no history of chronic illnesses like heart diseases, asthma, physically handicapped etc. Height and weight measurements were done by standard techniques and BMI was calculated using WHO Anthroplus software. BMI & Height for age were taken as a key indicator to assess their nutritional status. Data was analyzed by proportions, mean ± SD and χ2 test. Results: Mean age was 13.33 ± 1.09 years. Prevalence of thinness, overweight or obesity and stunting were 16%, 11.0% and 21.0% respectively. Significant association was found between different age groups, consumption of roots & tubers, cereals, puffed rice, green non-leafy vegetables, fatty foods, eating at fast food centre, skipping of meals, going hungry, physical activity, number of classes on healthy eating, trying to change their weight with the nutritional status of adolescent girls. Conclusion: There is a need to increase more nutritional counselling on healthy eating habits in school and thus to take appropriate interventions to improve the nutritional status of adolescent.