Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Secondary School Adolescent Girls in Nnewi, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Dietary intake largely influences the nutritional status of adolescents. Assessment of nutritional status enables early detection and correction of malnutrition in adolescents. Objective: To assess the dietary intake and nutritional status of secondary school adolescent girls in Nnewi, Southeastern Nigeria. Methodology: Cross-sectional study involving 311 adolescent girls from boarding, and a day secondary school. Anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin estimation, 24-hour dietary recall, and quantitative food frequency estimation were carried out on the subjects and recorded along with demographic data in a pre-tested proforma. Data analysis was performed using computer-based software. P-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Result: The mean age of the adolescents was 14.46±3.0 years. The mean weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were 51.79±10.35kg, 1.58±0.08m and  20.77±3.45kg/m2 respectively and all showed significant difference with increasing age (p =0.001). Up to 27.7% of the adolescents were underweight; 62.1%, normal weight; 9.0%, overweight; while 1.3%, obese. Cumulative three-day caloric-intake was generally low but significantly increased with increasing BMI (P=0.002). The basal metabolic rate (BMR) and the total resting energy expenditure (TREE) significantly increased for the day students compared to the boarding students, p= 0.001, and 0.001 respectively. Conclusion: The nutritional status of the adolescent girls in this study is poor, and the caloric intake generally low. Daily BMR and TREE were significantly higher for the day students compared to the boarders. Information from the study will be useful in the development of appropriate policies and dietary guidelines on adolescent nutrition.