Objective

To identify the relationships between the characteristics of the persona-lity, eating habits and the nutritional diagnosis of school-age adolescents of Monteros, Tucumán, Argentina.

Material and Method

A quantitative, cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 172 adolescents (average age = 13,57 ± 1,074). Individual measurements of weight and height were taken to calculate the body mass index and divided into two groups: clinical (overweight / obese) and control (normal weight). Moreover, a personality questionnaire was applied to them, and a food consumption frequency questionnaire adapted for the present study.

Results

41.9% of adolescents were overweight, obese and morbidly obese. The frequency of food consumption and eating habits are adequate in both groups, while phy-sical activity and lifestyle was little adequate in the control group and adequate in the clinical group. Significant associations were found between personality traits, eating habits and physical activity-lifestyle, while the relationship between personality and nutritional diagnosis and the frequency of food consumption could not be verified.

Conclusion

The results showed an increase in overweight/obesity compared to previous local studies and the correlation between personality traits, eating habits and physical activity-lifestyle.