THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OVERWEIGHT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AND DIETARY HABITS
Keywords:
Overweight, children, adolescents, dietary habits, fast food, eating behavior, cardiometabolic risk factors, meal frequency.Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between overweight and dietary habits among children and adolescents, which is a major contributor to cardiometabolic risk factors. A total of 246 participants aged 7 to 18 years were examined, divided into a main group of 156 overweight children and a control group of 90 normal-weight children based on WHO Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria. A comparative analysis of daily diet, meal frequency, and specific food choices was conducted using a specialized questionnaire. The results revealed significant dietary violations in the overweight group, including a higher prevalence of skipping breakfast (23.08% vs 4.44%, p < 0.001), fewer daily meals with larger portions, frequent consumption of fast food (25.64% vs 14.44%), and a preference for excessively salty foods (p = 0.018). The findings confirm that unhealthy eating behaviors are directly associated with excess body weight in youth. Early detection and correction of these dietary patterns are crucial for preventing obesity-related cardiometabolic complications.
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