Dietary Habits and Body Esteem in Adolescents Survey

Background: There are a lot of studies dedicated to anorexia nervosa in teens, but its general frequency isn’t so high. Still, adolescents are risk group for development of imbalanced diet as well as body dysmorphic disorders and low body-esteem. However, nutritional pattern and body-esteem in adolescents aren’t so well established.

The Aim: to evaluate dietary habits and body self-esteem in adolescents.

Material and Methods: 36 own design questionnaires, filled in by adolescents by their own. The questioner includes 3 blocks of questions: own evaluation of body composition and weight, dietary habits and adherence to a specific diet.

Results: After analyzing of data we received following results from 53%(19) boys and 47%(17) girls with mean age 14.75±0.46 years. There were 10.8%(3) adolescents with underweight, 7.2%(2) with overweight and 82%(31) with normal weight. However, all children with underweight considered their weight as normal, 25%(9) teens with normal weight count their weight as an overweight, but not as obesity. The 83%(30) of children evaluated body weight of parents as normal. Parents prepared food to all respondents. The 58%(21) teens consumed food 3-4 times, 25%(9) 2 times and 8%(3) 1 time daily. Consuming food without hunger was noted by 58%(21) of adolescents and eating in front of a TV was found in 75%(27) cases. There were 66.7%(24) ordered fast food at least 1 time weekly, 92%(33) drank soda or sweet beverages daily. However, 92%(33) and 83%(30) of children ate fruits and vegetables respectively every day. There were 18(50%) teens, which follow hypocaloric diet on purpose of weight reduction. We did not have respondents practiced vegetarian or vegan, or other specific diet.

Conclusions: survey showed features of misinterpretation of own weight and body composure, simultaneously with suboptimal dietary habits and adherence to hypocaloric diet in adolescents.