ABSTRACT

Adolescence is a period of increased responsibility, autonomy and large influence of

peers. During this period, young people gradually take over the responsibility for their

own eating habits, health attitudes and behaviours. This cross sectional study aimed to

determine food habits and nutritional status of boarding school adolescents aged 10-18

years in Enugu South L.G.A. A total of 213 students were selected using random

sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-

economic characteristics of the respondents, dietary habit and food frequency.

Anthropometric indices of the secondary school students was collected and grouped

using WHO anthro plus. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as

frequencies and percentages, mean and standard deviation. From the results, 72.8% were

within the age of 14-16 years, 33.3% were given 1000-2000 as monthly pocket money,

31.9% and 53.1% of their mothers and fathers were civil servants and business men, 62%

and 56.3% of their mothers and fathers were graduates, 58.7% were from household size

of 4-6. About 66.2% skipped meals of which 54.2% skipped breakfast. Some (55.4%)

consumed drinks and beverages in-between meal. Most (66.7%) consumed fruit once a

week. according to their frequency of food consumption, most of the students consumed

fruits and vegetable groups, meat, cereals and snacks 1-2 times a week.Prevalence of

stunting, underweight and overweight among the boarding students was 1.9%, 1.4% and

2.8%. Low prevalence of stunting underweight and overweight among the students shows

that the parents and school management are doing their best in ensuring that the students

are not malnourished. However, more effort need to be put in their dietary intake

especially area of fruits and vegetables consumption.