ABSTRACT

Adolescence is a stage of human life linked with gradual changes and rapid development. This study examined the body image perception, anthropometric status and dietary habit of in School Adolescent Girls in Awka South Local Government, Anambra State. The study was a cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 361 adolescent girls. Data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics of parents to know their Monthly income, Educational status and Occupations, body image perception was assessed using the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (Thompson and Gray, 2005), dietary pattern was assessed using a food frequency Consumption table, anthropometric status was measured using a Weighing scale (weight) and Meter rule (height) for the adolescents, which was collected using structured, pretested and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 22.0 computer programme was used to analyze the data. WHO anthro plus was used to assess the anthropometric status of adolescents. Data obtained were described using frequency and percentage. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between body image perception and body mass index of the adolescents. Significant relationship was judged at p ≤ 0.05. Result from the study showed that more than half (52.6%) of the adolescents were between 13-15 years. Majority (99.4%) of them are Christians. More than half (51.5%) of the adolescent’s fathers are high income earners, majority (70.6% and 85.3%) of both their father and mother attained higher education while some (38.8% and 53.7%) of them are civil servants. However, almost half (47.7%) of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their body image. Some (31.1%) of them perceived themselves as slim, 27.1% of them perceived themselves as thin while 11.1% perceived themselves as overweight. Meanwhile, majority (77.3%) of the adolescents skipped meals, 85.6% of them eat in between means while 97.2% consume snacks. The anthropometric status of the respondents showed that 39.1% of the adolescents were overweight, 20.8% of them were obese while 0.3% were underweight. There was a significant relationship between the adolescent’s dissatisfaction of body weight, perception of body size, current body shape and their Body mass index. Body image may be one of the most important determinants of dietary intake and physical activity behaviors, and thus future efforts to foster healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among adolescents need to address body image concerns. School health programs need to incorporate counseling for those with negative body image perceptions, while emphasizing healthful nutrition for adolescents.