Eating habits of adolescents in secondary schools and faculties of health care

Izhodišča: Ker se prehranjevalne navade pričnejo oblikovati že v zgodnjem otroštvu, je ustrezna izbira živil v zgodnji mladosti izhodišče za optimalno zdravje, rast in intelektualni razvoj mladostnikov in človekov razvoj skozi vsa življenjska obdobja. Namen magistrskega dela je ugotoviti prehranjevalne navade dijakov srednjih zdravstvenih šol in študentov zdravstvenih fakultet v Sloveniji in pridobljene rezultate primerjati s prehranskimi priporočili zdravega prehranjevanja. Raziskovalna metodologija: Raziskava je temeljila na kvantitativnem pristopu zbiranja podatkov z anketnim vprašalnikom. V raziskavi, ki je potekala med julijem 2016 in novembrom 2017, je sodelovalo 922 mladostnikov (15-24 let) iz srednjih zdravstvenih šol in zdravstvenih fakultet v Sloveniji. Rezultati so bili analizirani s statističnim programom IBM SPSS 23, kjer smo uporabili metode opisne in sklepne statistike. Rezultati: Ugotovili smo, da več kot polovica mladostnikov redno ne zajtrkuje, zaradi izpuščanja vmesnih obrokov pa komaj desetina zaužije priporočenih pet obrokov dnevno. Mleko in mlečne izdelke dnevno uživa dobra tretjina, ogljikove hidrate pa slaba tretjina mladostnikov. Sveže sadje večkrat dnevno uživa tretjina, svežo zelenjavo pa komaj petina mladostnikov. Ribe in ribje izdelke 1 krat do 3 krat na teden uživa manj kot četrtina mladostnikov. Nezdravo se s hitro hrano prehranjuje več kot tretjina mladostnikov, več kot polovica pa jih že pripravljeno hrano še dodatno dosoljuje. Četrtina dijakov pije alkoholne pijače večkrat na teden. Pri četrtini starejših mladostnikov je evidentiran status čezmerne prehranjenosti (ITM nad 25). Sklep: Z raziskavo smo ugotovili, da prehrana mladostnikov v večji meri ne izpolnjuje priporočil zdravega prehranjevanja. Za izboljšanje prehranjevalnih navad je potreben sistemski pristop na državni ravni pri implementaciji sodobnih smernic za bolj zdravo ponudbo prehrane tem ciljnim skupinam.Starting point: Since eating habits begin to form in early childhood, the appropriate choice of foods at an early age is the starting point for optimal health, growth and intellectual development of adolescents and for human development throughout all stages of life. The purpose of this master\u27s thesis is to determine the eating habits of adolescents, namely of secondary school pupils and students of health science in Slovenia, and to compare the obtained results with nutritional recommendations for healthy diet. Research methodology: The research was based on a quantitative approach of collecting data with a questionnaire. The study took place between July 2016 and November 2017 and involved 922 adolescents (15-24 years) from medical secondary schools and faculties of health science in Slovenia. The results were analyzed with the IBM SPSS 23 statistical program where the descriptive and concluding statistics methods were used. Results: We found that more than half of adolescents do not regularly eat breakfast, while due to skipping meals only about one out of ten consumes the recommended five meals per day. Around one third of the adolescents consume milk and dairy products on a daily basis and almost one third consume carbohydrates on a daily basis. One third consume fruits several times a day, and only one fifth consume fresh vegetables several times a day. Less than one quarter of the adolescents consume fish and fish products 1 to 3 times a week. More than one third of adolescents consume unhealthy fast food, and more than half of them add salt to the already prepared meals. One quarter of male pupils consume alcoholic beverages several times a week. One quarter of older adolescents have an excessive body mass index (BMI above 25). Conclusion: In the research we found out that the diet of adolescents seriously fails to meet the recommendations of healthy eating. In order to improve the eating habits, a systematic approach at the national level is needed in the implementation of modern guidelines for a healthier nutrition supply to these target groups