Abstract

OSORIO MURILLO, OLGA  and  AMAYA REY, MARÍA CONSUELO DEL PILAR. Overview of feeding practices in school adolescents. av.enferm. [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.2, pp.43-56. ISSN 0121-4500.

Feeding of adolescents constitutes a topic of interest for nursing due to the effect that health promotion and disease prevention actions have. Said actions can be carried out during this life phase and have impact on current and future health of young people. Objective: evaluate the practices and influences of food in school adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 201 adolescents, which were evaluated for food intake, risks of feeding conduct disorders, feeding circumstances, influence of family, friends, school and media. Results: food consumption: the highest daily consumption was: cereals (436,2±172g/day), soft drinks and sweetened drinks (225,9±152 g/day), meat (155,4±70 g/day), fruits (145,3±66 g/day) and diary (123,3±95 g/day). Also found was lower consumption of: sugars, pastries and ice creams (60,6±30,5 g/day), leguminous (49,5±58,2 g/day), oils and butters (45,8±19,4 g/day), vegetables (35,2±58,2 g/day), eggs (26,7±24 g/day), snacks (10,3±13,4 g/day) and fast food (4±11 g/day). Men reported alcohol consumption. Intake of energy and nutrients: While protein intake was high (126,3% of the requirements), the intake of energy was deficient (88,7% of the requirements). Deficiencies were found in the consumption of vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, calcium and iron. Food habits: 74,6% of adolescents skipped at least one of the main daily meals. 35,3% of adolescents reported that their emotional situations such as anguish, anxiety, sadness and boredom influenced the increase of food consumption, while for 46,8% these feelings led them to reduce their food intake. 76,6% of adolescents would regularly eat in company while 22,4% would do it alone. 11% of the adolescents that participate are at risk of developing feeding conduct disorders. 45,8% of the adolescents' families shop at big supermarket chains; the mother is who regularly buys the food (58,2 %) and kooks it (71,1%). 78,6% of the adolescents´ families consume food outside home. Family constitutes the greatest influence on food, according to the adolescents (80,1%), followed by the media (10,9%), friends (5%) and school (4%). Conclusions: Adolescents present feeding practices that may constitute a risk to cause disease due to inadequate food consumption and which are translated in deficient contribution of energy, vitamin A, B complex vitamins, calcium and iron and high protein contribution. Feeding practices: there is no adequate distribution of food during the day. Emotions affect food consumption; family and media have great influence on the feeding conduct of adolescents.

Keywords : Eating; adolescent nutrition; feeding; feeding behavior.

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