Antropometría y hábitos alimentarios en adolescentes

Abstract

Introduction: adolescence is a period of development and growth with increased energy, protein and micronutrient needs, where inadequate eating habits can cause malnutrition due to deficit and excess, with repercussions on their health status both in the short and long term. Objective: to establish anthropometry and eating habits in adolescents. Material and methods: the study presents a non-experimental design, with a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional approach, during the period between September 2022- February 2023, at the Atahualpa Educational Unit, Canton Ambato, Ecuador, with a sample of 134 adolescents aged 12 to 15. years, of both sexes, an anthropometric evaluation and a self-completed questionnaire of eating habits and physical activity were applied with a reliability of Alpha Cronbach 0.71 in eating habits and 0.76 in physical activity. Results: In the sociodemographiccharacteristics, the age of 14-15 years predominated in 75.40% male gender in 65.70%, higherfrequency of adolescents in normal nutritional status 60.4%, 30.6% at risk of malnutrition, overweight 3.7% and obesity 3%. Conclusions: Adolescents presented in anthropometry a higher frequency of normal nutritional status and risk of malnutrition, with partially inadequate eating habits.