Evaluation Nutritional Situation of Basic Education Pupils (Second stage) in Al-Mazzeh District Schools

Abstract

The research included the second grade students in Al-Mezzeh Jabal area in Damascus Governorate for the academic year 2016-2017. Students ranged between 12-14 years old. The sample size was 458 students, which include 243 females and 215 males, distributed on the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The aim of the research was to find out the nutritional status of students through the number of meals consumed, breakfast ingredients, food groups and Body Mass Index(BMI).

The results of the study showed that (63.2%) of females and (48.13%) of males had three meals a day, and (82%) of females and (78%) males had breakfast daily. Moreover, Chi-Square Test revealed no relationship between students gender and breakfast consumption habit. The most common foods at home were labaneh, thyme and eggs after bread, while breakfast meal in school included thyme, labneh and croissants. Moreover, the results showed that the percentage of females who consume carbohydrates was (37%) and sweets and fats (23%), which was higher than males (18.8%) and (15.5%) respectively. This was reflected the increase in the percentage of obesity (37.04%) for females compared to (31.63%) for males. On the other hand, the percentage of slimness was higher for males (36.74%) comparing with females (32.92%).