Medica Jadertina, Vol. 44 No. 1-2, 2014.
Original scientific paper
The association between self-esteem and dietary habits, nutrition, sport, gender and age among adolescents in Rijeka (Croatia)
Tatjana Čulina
orcid.org/0000-0001-5404-8761
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko goranske županije, Odjel školske i sveučilišne medicine, Rijeka
Sandra Anđelić Breš
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko goranske županije, Odjel školske i sveučilišne medicine, Rijeka
Abstract
Aims: To determinate the relation between nourishment and nutrition habits among students and secondary school students, depending on age and gender, but also in their relation with self-esteem, satisfaction with their appearance and performing sport activities. Examinees and methods: This research started in Rijeka during the year 2011/2012 by examining 248 twenty-year-old students (151 male and 97 female) and 164 sixteen-year-old high school students (120 male and 44 female). Nutrition was measured by BMI (kg/m2) and on the basis of percentile curves. We used an appropriate survey with questions about dietary habits, sport activities, satisfaction with their appearance and self–esteem questionnaire. Results:
While measuring nutrition, it was determined that improper nutrition was largely present among our subjects. At high school age, 17.1% are obese, while in college that number drops to 10.2%. There are much more obese boys than girls, but the number of obese boys drops along with their age. It can be seen that students are more satisfied with their appearance compared to high school students (p < 0.05), and this difference is particularly evident in the group of girls. High school students more often use diets, while students combine physical activity and changes in nutrition. Conclusion: Pursuant to the perceived results, this imposes a necessity of intensifying health and educational activities. Therefore, together with the existing program ''Obesity is a disease – food can be the cure'', a specialized medical office has started working in preventing nourishment disorders within the Youth Centre– open doors counsel.
Keywords
adolescents; dietary habits; health education; nutrition; school and university medicine; self-esteem
Hrčak ID:
122380
URI
Publication date:
2.6.2014.
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