EATING HABITS OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE AREA OF SPLIT-DALMATIA COUNTY

Pregledom znanstvene literature cilj je bio prikazati važnost pravilne prehrane u razdoblju adolescencije kao periodu intenzivnog rasta. U online anketnom istraživanju dobrovoljno je sudjelovalo 58 učenika srednje Zdravstvene škole u Splitu. Rezultati pokazuju da adolescenti imaju raznovrsnu prehranu te da svakodnevno konzumiraju mlijeko i mliječne proizvode (71%). Većina ispitanika svaki dan jede voće i povrće (72%), ali samo 22% ispitanika svaki dan jede 3-4 porcije voća i povrća. Preskakanje doručka je često kod adolescenata jer je samo trećina ispitanika (35%) odgovorila da uvijek doručkuje, a izostavljanje doručka disreguliraenergetsku ravnotežu i pridonosi pretilosti. Zabrinjavajuća je i niska razina fizičke aktivnosti jer tek oko 31% ispitanika prakticira neku fizičku aktivnost više od 4 sata u tjednu, a čak 36% ispitanika provedu 3-4 sata dnevno za kompjuterom. Stavovi ispitanika o zdravim prehrambenim navikama ukazuju na to da adolescenti imaju dobro znanje i poznaju važnost prehrane, ali neke od važnih smjernica nisu uspjeli ostvariti u vlastitom životu (preskakanje doručka, smanjena fizička aktivnost, nedovoljna konzumacija voća i povrća). Adolescenti su odgovaranjem na pitanja pokazali samostalnost i zrelost kroz prihvaćanje savjeta, o prehrani i povećanju fizičke aktivnosti, usmjerenih na poboljšanje njihova zdravlja. Znanje o sigurnosti hrane i razina higijenske prakse je dobra. Učenici su svjesni mogućnosti trovanja hranom i da simptomi trovanja ovise o vrsti uzročnog mikroba (45%). Kao najčešći uzrok trovanja hranom (64%) ispitanika je navelo neadekvatno konzerviranje hrane jer to dovodi do razvoja mikroba. Važnost termičke obrade hrane i higijenske pripreme hrane (korištenje različitog posuđa za kuhanu i sirovu hranu) poznaje oko 75% ispitanika. Adolescenti su svjesni važnosti pranja ruku prije jela kao jednog od najbitnijih načina prevencije trovanja hranom. Za još veća postignuća i napretke na području prehrane i fizičke aktivnosti adolescenata potrebne su edukacije u školama od ranog djetinjstva.A review of the scientific literature aimed to show the importance of proper nutrition in adolescence as a period of intensive growth and development. A total of 58 students from the Medical High School in Split voluntarily participated in the online survey research. Results show that adolescents have a varied nutrition, and that daily consume milk and dairy products daily (71%). Most respondents eat fruits and vegetables every day (72%), but only (22%) respondents eat 3-4 servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Skipping breakfast is common in adolescence because only a third of respondents (35%) answered that they always eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast dysregulates energy balance and contributes to the development of obesity. The low level of physical activity is also worrying because only about 31% of respondents practice some kind of physical activity more than 4 hours per week, and as many as 36% of respondents spend 3-4 hours per day at the computer. Respondents attitudes about healthy and unhealthy eating habits indicate that adolescents have good knowledge about healthy nutrition regime and they know the importance of nutrition balance, but failed to achieve some of the important guidelines in their lives (skipping breakfast, reduced physical activity, insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables). By answering questions about self-efficacy, adolescents demonstrated independence and maturity through acceptance of dietary advice for improving their health. Knowledge of food safety and the level of hygiene practice among adolescents is good. Students are aware of the possibility of food poisoning and that the symptoms of poisoning depend on type of infective microorganism (45%). As the most common cause of food poisoning (64%) respondents stated inadequate foodpreservation and safety food preparation (75% of respondents use appropriate food dishes for cooked and raw food). Adolescents are aware of the importance of washing hands before mealsas one of the most important ways to prevent food poisoning. For healthy lifestyle habits of adolescents, it is required to implement education about nutrition in school from an early age