Eating Habits Of Adolescents Research Articles

Factors associated with consuming unhealthy food in school children: A population-based study from Hong Kong.

Unhealthy diets were found to be the main contributor to the overweight problem among adolescents. In this study, we aim to identify the factors causing unhealthy eating habits in adolescents. School-aged children and adolescents participated in this cross-sectional observational study with additional school and parental consent. A self-administered survey was conducted by 30 primary schools and 25 secondary schools. Participants were asked about the frequency of consuming unhealthy food and the types of unhealthy food consumed. A descriptive analysis was performed to demonstrate the proportions of characteristics. The prevalence of the outcome among participants of various factors was also analyzed using separate binary regression models. A total of 4884 responses were collected. Among primary school students (grade 4, mean age: 10.06), people who (1) were actively gaining weight (aOR: 1.651, 95% CI 1.006-2.708, p = 0.047), (2) went to bed after 11 p.m. (aOR: 1.652, 95% CI 1.065-2.563, p = 0.025), (3) had more than 2 h of gaming (aOR: 2.833, 95% CI 1.913-4.195, p < 0.001), (4) suffered from self-report depressive symptoms (aOR: 1.753, 95% CI 1.233-2.493, p = 0.002) was more likely to consume unhealthy food. As for secondary school students (grade 3, mean age: 15.28), (1) males (aOR: 1.266, 95% CI 1.0004-1.601, p = 0.0496), (2) average-to-high socioeconomic status (Average: aOR: 1.471, 95% CI 1.115-1.941, p = 0.006; High: aOR: 2.253, 95% CI 1.585-3.202. p < 0.001), (3) having more than 2 h of gaming (aOR: 1.342, 95% CI 1.069-1.685, p = 0.011), (4) suffering from psychological distress (aOR: 1.395, 95% CI 1.051-1.852, p = 0.021) were associated with the increased odds of consuming unhealthy food. Several lifestyle and health factors were significantly associated with unhealthy eating behaviors in school-aged children and adolescents in Hong Kong, sharing similarities with many other countries. In conjunction with implementing a policy that addresses factors for unhealthy eating habits, further research should investigate potential interventions targeting these factors to ultimately tackle the overweight and obesity concern for children and adolescents in Hong Kong.

Unhealthy eating habits among adolescent waterpipe smokers in Jordan: The Irbid-TRY study.

INTRODUCTIONThe relationship between waterpipe smoking and eating habits among adolescents has not been investigated, thus the aim of the current study was to compare eating habits among adolescent cigarette-only, waterpipe-only, dual smokers versus non-smokers. We hypothesize that adolescent smokers practice unhealthy eating habits with worse habits among waterpipe smokers and dual smokers.METHODSUsing a descriptive, cross-sectional design, self-reporting patterns of waterpipe, cigarette smoking and eating habits were collected from a random representative sample of 1720 boys and girls in grades 7–10 in Northern Jordan.RESULTSA total of 6.9%, 23.2% and 26.2% reported cigarette-only, waterpipe-only, and dual smoking, respectively. After controlling for gender, family income and education level of the mother and father, subsequent post hoc ANCOVA analyses revealed the following: mean (±SD) weekly breakfast consumption was greater in non-smokers (3.9±2.4) than waterpipe-only smokers (3.5±2.5, p=0.040) and dual smokers (3.2±2.5, p<0.000). Mean soda consumption frequency was lower in non-smokers (3.6±2.3) versus waterpipe-only (4.2±2.3, p=0.004) and dual smokers (2.7±2.2, p<0.000). Mean vegetable consumption was less in waterpipe-only (4.5±2.0, p=0.026) and dual smoking (4.4±2.0, p=0.013) smokers versus non-smokers (4.8±1.8). Mean consumption of energy drinks was the highest among dual smokers (1.2±1.9) versus non-smokers (0.5±1.4, p<0.000), cigarette-only (0.6±1.4, p≤0.01), and waterpipe-only (0.6±1.4, p<0.000) smokers.CONCLUSIONSOverall, both waterpipe and dual smoking are associated with several unhealthy eating habits in adolescents. Given the growing epidemic of tobacco smoking in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, especially adolescent waterpipe smoking, and its association with unhealthy eating habits, public health actions and enforcing policies to decrease uptake of waterpipe smoking as well as improving food choices in schools among youth are urgently needed.

ADHD symptoms as risk factors for dysfunctional eating habits in adolescents: results from a longitudinal study

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in childhood and early-adolescence and the development of dysfunctional eating habits later in life. The sample under investigation is composed of 217 adolescents (males: 30.9%; mean age: 17.1 ± 0.88 ys; range: 16-19 ys) voluntarily recruited in the city of Parma (Northern Italy) in the context of a longitudinal research project focused on developmental factors of antisocial behaviour. All subjects were assessed at T1 (mean age: 12 ys) and at T2 (mean age: 14 ys) using a structured clinical interview to collect information on ADHD symptoms on a lifetime basis and, at T3 (mean age: 17 ys), they were administered an interview to assess pathological eating habits. Correlation and regression analyses were carried out between scores of the three symptom domains of ADHD and eating habits as assessed at T3. Results suggest that the association between ADHD symptoms and eating habits show differences according to gender, in that in females ADHD symptoms assessed at T2 are associated with compensatory behaviours, while in males they are predictive of overweight as assessed at T3. ADHD symptoms, although under threshold, may lead to chaotic and unorganized eating habits which might put female at risk for compensatory behaviours and males for overweight.