Department of Organisation and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 07-776 Warsaw, Poland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 10;18(8):3996. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18083996.
According to the health field concept, the most important factor affecting health is a lifestyle. The current upward trend in overweight and obesity among younger populations is a consequence of inadequate lifestyle habits. The study aimed to characterise youth nutrition behaviour and knowledge in the context of the risk of developing overweight or obesity. The study group consisted of 307 high school students, 59% females and 41% males, aged between 15 and 19. Nutrition behaviours were studied using the standardised Questionnaire of Eating Behaviour. Body weight and body height were measured with a body composition analyser and a body height meter, respectively. It was observed that the average body mass index was 21.7 ± 3.4 kg/m for the females and 22.3 ± 3.1 kg/m for the males ( = 0.036). Disturbed weight-to-height ratios (i.e., overweight and obesity) were found in 15.6% of the females and 16.5% of the males. The diets of approximately 90% of these youth were characterised by excessively low pro-health product content. The males showed a significantly higher intensity of adverse health traits compared to the females (8.1% vs. 0.7%, = 0.002). More than half of the males presented insufficient knowledge about food and nutrition (53.5% vs. 30.8%, < 0.001). Regardless of gender, the study showed a positive correlation between adolescents' level of knowledge and the pro-health diet index (gamma coefficient: 0.42, < 0.001) and a negative correlation between their level of knowledge and the unhealthy diet index (gamma coefficient: -0.66, < 0.001). The level of knowledge was closely related to the indicators of the intensities and adverse health characteristics of their diets. These results indicate the need for educational programs to raise awareness among youth in civilisation backgrounds.
根据健康领域的概念，影响健康的最重要因素是生活方式。目前，年轻人群超重和肥胖的上升趋势是不良生活习惯的结果。本研究旨在描述青年营养行为和知识与超重或肥胖风险的关系。研究组由 307 名高中生组成，其中 59%为女性，41%为男性，年龄在 15 至 19 岁之间。使用标准化的饮食行为问卷研究了营养行为。体重和身高分别用身体成分分析仪和身高计测量。结果观察到女性平均体重指数为 21.7 ± 3.4 kg/m，男性为 22.3 ± 3.1 kg/m（ = 0.036）。发现女性中有 15.6%和男性中有 16.5%的体重与身高比例失调（超重和肥胖）。大约 90%的这些年轻人的饮食中，健康产品的含量过低。与女性相比，男性表现出更高的不良健康特征强度（8.1%比 0.7%， = 0.002）。超过一半的男性对食物和营养的知识不足（53.5%比 30.8%， < 0.001）。无论性别如何，研究表明青少年的知识水平与健康饮食指数呈正相关（伽马系数：0.42， < 0.001），与不健康饮食指数呈负相关（伽马系数：-0.66， < 0.001）。知识水平与饮食强度和不良健康特征的指标密切相关。这些结果表明，需要在文明背景下开展针对青年的教育计划，提高他们的意识。
