The Environmental practices and dietary behaviors of adolescents in Kirkuk.

Adolescence is a critical period of development during which adolescents acquire the specific skills and knowledge necessary to enter the labor force and contribute to economic efficiency. Diet has an extensive and profound effect on human health, mainly on children and adolescents, as the major age groups with high nutritional needs for growth and development. A crosssectional study was performed in Kirkuk City. Three hundred forty-two adolescents participated in our research. A specially designed questionnaire form has been utilized to collect data online. Females (183; 53.5%), aged 14 – 17 years (204; 59.6%), with mother’s educational level ranging from primary-secondary school (203; 59.4%), high father’s educational level (174; 50.9%), lived in an urban area (310; 90.6%) with both parents (311; 90.9%) were the main participants. The mean BMI was 23.075 ± 5.5. BMI was significantly correlated with age, parental marital status, and father’s job (P = 0.001, 0.012, and 0.003, respectively). Only milk was heavily correlated with weight (P is 0.02). Common food eaten for breakfast was bread (206; 68.7%) and tea (196, 65.3%). Sweets were the preferable snacks (57.9%). More than half of them were concerned about their weight (228, 66.7%) practising sports daily in less than 30 mins. Adolescents spent more than four hours on social media (166; 48.5%) using a laptop or mobile (248; 72.5%). The study noticed neglect of safety food behavior (reading the instructions on packaged food 54.1%, checking expiry date 44.2%, hand washing before meals 63.8%, and washing fruits and vegetables before eating 88.3%). The nutritional habits of adolescents have changed recently. Unfortunately, snacks have become a meal in adolescents’ daily lives. Adolescents neglected food safety and hygiene practices are still below recommended. Social media has become part of the adolescent’s life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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