Does gender influence food intake and physical activity pattern among Palestinian adolescents in the Gaza Strip?

Abstract

One of the most important parameters that affect the development of adolescents is nutrition. Eating practices among adolescents may have long-term impact on their health. This study aimed to assess whether there is a difference in food intake and physical activity patterns among male and female adolescents (12-19 years old) in the Gaza Strip. The cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2016 among 378 adolescent students, 205 males, 173 females. Researchers utilized quantitative and qualitative measures by incorporating a face-to-face interview questionnaire with the adolescents and focus group discussions with parents. Over 55% of participants were eating healthy foods with high frequency; the proportion of boys was greater than that of girls (P < 0.05). Around 45% were eating unhealthy foods with high frequency; here the proportion of girls was greater, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In terms of physical activity pattern, more than half of the adolescents were practicing a sedentary lifestyle, girls statistically significantly more than boys (P < 0.001). No statistically significant sex-based association was found between food intake habits and physical activity pattern. Palestinian adolescents of both sexes in the Gaza Strip are practising unhealthy feeding habits coupled with an apparently highly sedentary lifestyle.