Características alimentarias de las y los adolescentes de colegios matutinos y vespertinos de la zona urbana en Cuenca

Abstract

Objective: To describe the food consumption characteristics in adolescents of high schools of morning and afternoon schedules in urban Cuenca. Method and materials: Descriptive study. The sample calculation was based on 38118 students with a 50% probability, of occurrence and non-occurrence, a confidence level of 99%. Identifying 810 cases, for the data gathering. The instrument used was a previously validated questionnaire. The results were analyzed using the SPSS 15.0 Evaluation version Results: 47.2% of students belong to middle adolescence, being 54.1% females. The comparable results between the stages of adolescence showed that men and women in mid-adolescence, omitted more food in the mid morning (6.6% and 4.2%). Consume less milk (24.1% and 27.1%) and bread (22.5% and 23.9%) at breakfast. Drink less juice (14.3% to 15.4%) and eat more salty snacks (18.2% and 12.2%) in mid-morning. Eat more salad (19.6% and 31.8%) at lunch, but the consumption of salad decreases at dinner (11.1% and 15.6%), and consume less juice (13% and 13.3%) and eat more salty snacks (8.2% and 4.2%) in the afternoon respectively. Also we appreciated a higher consumption of unhealthy foods such as; fast food 1 time per week (24.9% females and 17.2% males), and salty snacks 2-3 times per week (22.8% females and 17% males). Conclusion: Middle adolescence is when risky food behaviors appear. Beginning at this age the consumption of nutritious food decreases and the consumption of harmful products increases.