Adolescents Food Choices and Its Impact on Their Health Status (A Case Study in Dadease Agric. Senior High Schools in Effiduase District)

ABSTRACT 

Adolescents’ stage is usually characterized by a lot of influence in action taken. What to eat, how to eat, when to eat are mostly influence by several factors by the adolescent. Adolescents select and practice a particular eating behaviour base on certain influences when they leave normal environment for places like school. Therefore, the study is aimed at assessing the influences of adolescents’ food selection practices and its impact on their health.The target population for the study was all students of Dadease Agric Senior High School. Descriptive survey design was appropriate for the study because it is done by collecting information that will determine or demonstrate relationships and describe situations as they exist. Systematic sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents for the study. A sample size of 94 students was chosen for the researcher to be able to manage them. Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument used in collecting data for the research. From the analysis of data, the study found out that when students changed their normal environment to a place like school, they select the type of food they like solely by taste without considering the implication. The study also found out that five (5) items namely (Taste, Availability, Economics, Peers and Parental) are the most influential elements that influence adolescents to select the kind of foods they buy or select to eat and eventually leads to health disorders. Impact on adolescents’ health status as a result of wrong food choices are (Malnutrition, Menstrual disorder, Infertility and Obesity). Finally, the study recommends that lessons on healthy nutrition practices in school should be added to the curriculum of Senior High Schools, as has been done in some developing countries in order to educate them on what to eat and what not to eat and food vendors on school premises should be encouraged to provide at affordable prices a wide variety of healthy foods such as appealing fresh fruits and vegetables for students to buy. Also at the dining hall fruits and fresh vegetables should be served to students .Students should be regulated on when they should visit their chop boxes as well as not eating after prep.