NUTRITION PECULIARITIES OF UKRAINIAN ADOLESCENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

Abstract

The aim: To study the dietary peculiarities of Ukrainian adolescents with obesity and to identify the eating disorders on the background of metabolic syndrome. Materials and methods: A survey on the nutrition of Ukrainian adolescents was conducted at O. Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute for Social Research within the framework of the international project Health and Behavioral Orientations of Student Youth (HBSC), 2018. As a result, a sample of 200 adolescents with obesity (age 14-18 years: 100 boys and 100 girls) was formed, with the following examination by the Institute of Children and Adolescents Health Care of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. Results: A survey conducted revealed the problem of irrational and unbalanced diet in Ukrainian adolescents. Thus, irregular and unbalanced diet naturally causes digestive disorders and contributes to the formation of comorbid pathologies such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. The general analysis of the DEBQ survey results revealed that patients with metabolic syndrome were twice as likely to have abnormalities in eating behavior (71.8 ± 3.7)% than in patients without them (39.4 ± 4.1)%, (φ < 0.05). Adolescents with obesity experienced significant zinc and magnesium deficiency in the body (φ < 0.05). Conclusions: Modification of eating behaviour through healthy balanced nutrition and psychological support is one of the most important tasks in the treatment of patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome.