Dietary practices and adolescent obesity in secondary school learners at disadvantaged schools in South Africa : urban–rural and gender differences

dc.contributor.authorOkeyo, Alice P.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSeekoe, Euniceen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorde Villiers, Annizaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorFaber, Miekeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNel, Johanna H.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSteyn, Nelia P.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-01T13:08:53Z
dc.date.available2022-09-01T13:08:53Z
dc.date.issued2020-08
dc.descriptionCITATION: Okeyo A. P. et al. 2020. Dietary Practices and Adolescent Obesity in Secondary School Learners at Disadvantaged Schools in South Africa: Urban–Rural and Gender Differences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16). doi:10.3390/ijerph17165864
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa has a high prevalence of obesity in black female adolescents and a paucity of knowledge regarding contributing dietary practices. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary practices and weight status of male and female adolescents at secondary schools in the Eastern Cape province in urban and rural areas. Sixteen schools and grade 8–12 learners (N = 1360) were randomly selected from three health districts comprising poor disadvantaged communities. A short unquantified food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data on learners’ usual eating practices with regards to weekly meal pattern, breakfast consumption, foods taken to school, takeaways, and snacks eaten while watching television (TV). Body mass index measurements were determined for each learner. Prevalence of combined overweight and obesity differed significantly between genders, 9.9% in males versus 36.1% in females (p < 0.001). Significant gender differences were noted regarding eating practices. Females had a higher frequency of eating sugary snacks (p < 0.001) and a lower frequency of eating breakfast (p < 0.01) than males. Females ate significantly more fried fish (p < 0.05), pizza (p < 0.05) fat cakes (fried dough balls) (p < 0.05), hotdogs (p < 0.01), candy (p < 0.001), cake (p < 0.01), and crisps (p < 0.001). Compared to urban areas, the frequency of eating breakfast (p < 0.01) and sugary snacks (p < 0.05) was significantly higher in rural areas. Significantly more learners in urban areas consumed boerewors (beef sausage) rolls (p = 0.027), hamburgers (p = 0.004), and soft drinks (p = 0.019), while more learners in the rural areas consumed cordial (p = 0.001). In conclusion, a high prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was found in black female adolescents and a high prevalence of poor dietary practices was observed, with significant gender and urban–rural differences.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5864
dc.description.versionPublishers version
dc.format.extent18 pages : illustrations
dc.identifier.citationOkeyo A. P. et al. 2020. Dietary Practices and Adolescent Obesity in Secondary School Learners at Disadvantaged Schools in South Africa: Urban–Rural and Gender Differences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16). doi:10.3390/ijerph17165864
dc.identifier.issn1660-4601 (online)
dc.identifier.issn1661-7827 (print)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.3390/ijerph17165864
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125678
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectObesity in adolescence -- Eastern Cape (South Africa)en_ZA
dc.subjectSchool children -- Nutrition -- Eastern Cape (South Africa)en_ZA
dc.subjectSchool children -- Nutrition -- Eastern Cape (South Africa)en_ZA
dc.titleDietary practices and adolescent obesity in secondary school learners at disadvantaged schools in South Africa : urban–rural and gender differencesen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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