Prevalence of Obesity and Nutritional Characteristics Among High School Students in a  Provincial Center: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya

doi:10.5281.inno202511

Authors

Selma Durmuş Sarıkahya Artvin Çoruh University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0318-3098

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281.inno202511

Keywords:

obesity prevalence, nutritional habits, high school students, descriptive cross- sectional study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the nutritional habits and prevalence of obesity among high school students in a province located in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2023 and included 929 high school students. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements. Nutritional habits were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests applied. The significance level was set at p < .05.

Results:The mean age of the students was 15.84 ± 1.21 years. According to BMI classification, 12.7% were overweight and 5.6% were obese. Female students reported a higher frequency of meal skipping (70.7%) than males (64.2%) (p = .035), particularly breakfast, often due to lack of appetite or late waking. Male students had higher consumption of dairy and meat products, but also reported greater intake of fast food and sugary drinks. Notably, only 54.4% of students reported having received structured nutrition education as part of school- based health or biology courses

Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for school-based interventions targeting gender-specific nutritional behaviors. Interventions should focus on encouraging regular meal consumption, reducing fast food and sugary beverage intake, and promoting breakfast habits. The study’s limitations include its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce bias.

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