Is Healthy Eating Behaviour Common Among School Adolescents in Mauritius?

Abstract

Adolescents eating behaviours have come in the limelight because of the unconventional meals, fast-food intake, and snacking. This study was therefore undertaken to appraise and understand eating behaviours of secondary school adolescents in Mauritius. Data were collected randomly from a representative sample (n=384) of adolescents via a self-administered questionnaire and analysed statistically to examine associations, if any, between socio-demographic factors and eating behaviours. Breakfast was the most frequently (68%) missed meal, attributed mainly to lack of time (79.2%). No significant difference was observed between common socio-demographic variables and breakfast skipping. Adolescents tend to consume healthy food items such as breakfast cereals, fruits and vegetables while fast food consumption was universally present but higher among low income groups. Snacking was highly prevalent (84%) and occurred more often in female teens, urban residents and middle and higher income groups. However, snacking pattern revealed a healthy trend with 76% adolescents reporting drinking water and fruits appeared to be the most popular snack (Popularity Score: 5.57). This study shows that there has been an improvement in the eating behaviour of school adolescents in Mauritius compared to previous local studies.

Use of “Nutriatlet” smartphone application-based personalized nutrition program to improve energy consumption, body mass index, and body fat percentage among martial arts athletes

“…1, most of the athletes had a deficient energy consumption level. This finding was consistent with a study in Mauritius 15) . In the Mauritius study, they concluded that there was a correlation between nutritional knowledge and eating habits among teenagers.…”

“…However, good nutritional knowledge does not always lead to good eating habits. Therefore, other methods are needed to bring about good eating habits 15) .…”

Youth health, gender, and social media: Mauritius as a glocal place

“…In addition, the socioeconomic development in Mauritius has resulted in a nutrition transition marked by an increased consumption of unhealthy processed foods and significant lifestyle changes such as inadequate time for cooking and eating meals and decreased time spent in physical activity (Oogarah-Pratap, 2007;Ranjana et al, 2013;Bhurosy & Jeewon, 2016). From the differences in opportunities and experiences in life, young people with different genders are exposed to different degrees and types of health-related behaviours and risks in Mauritius.…”

Do Adolescents Doing Sports Have Optimal Diet Quality? Their Obesity Status and Adherence to Mediterranean Diet

“…31,32 Yapılan bir çalışmada, profesyonel olarak spor yapan erişkinlerin %64'ünün BDÜ kullandığı, en çok kul-Yapılan bazı çalışmalarda, sporcu adölesanların KIDMED puanı arttıkça BKİ'lerinin istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde azaldığı görülmüştür. 33,41 Bu çalışmada da benzer olarak, spor yapan adölesanların KIDMED puanları ile BKİ düzeyleri arasında negatif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki belirlenmiş, KIDMED puanı arttıkça adölesanların BKİ düzeylerinin azaldığı görülmüştür (rho:-0,102; p=0,007).…”

“…40 Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti'nde çocuk ve adölesanlar üzerinde yapılan bir çalışmada, adölesanların %18,3'ünün düşük, %59,0'ının orta düzeyde diyet kalitesine sahip oldukları görülmüştür. 41 Bu çalışmada ise 10-14 yaş grubu adölesanların %16,6'sının düşük, %54,6'sının orta, %28,8'inin optimal; 15-18 yaş grubu adölesanların ise %26,9'unun düşük, %50,5'inin orta, %22,6'sının optimal diyet kalitesine sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada da diğer çalışmalarda olduğu gibi, adölesanların diyet kalitelerinin genellikle düşük ve orta düzeyde olduğu, ancak 10-14 yaş grubu adölesanların KIDMED puanlarının, 15-18 yaş grubuna göre daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür.…”