Abstract

HERNANDEZ CAMACHO, Juan Diego et al. Eating habits, excess weight and weight self-perception at school. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2015, vol.32, n.3, pp.1334-1343. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.3.9351.

Introduction: in the last years the rates of overweight and obesity in adolescents have been increasing simultaneously with a progressive abandon of the Mediterranean dietary patterns. In addition many adolescents misperceive their weight. Objectives: to analyse the prevalence of overweight/ obesity, to assess the self-perception of weight and to explore the eating habits in a child and adolescent sample. The relationship among these variables and the influence on the psychosocial wellbeing are also analysed. Method: a total of 87 secondary school students participated in this project. Weight and height were obtained, the self-perceived weight was assessed and a series of questionnaires were applied in order to explore the participants' wellbeing. Results: 28.73% of the sample had overweight and 9.19% obesity, 27.48% of the students misperceived their weight and only a quarter of the sample had a proper Mediterranean dietary pattern. The frequency of weight control was related positively with a higher weight perception. Discussion and conclusions: many participants underestimated their weight and a possible association between overweight/obesity and skipping breakfast was observed. A progressive increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents is confirmed and the need to implement nutrition education programs after analyzing the eating habits is proposed.

Keywords : Eating habits; Overweight; Obesity; Weight self-perception; Mediterranean diet.

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