.ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study examined the differences in dietary life and health related
factors, such as drinking behavior, exercise and leisure activities, mental health, and
subjective perception for oneself according to obesity in poor urban Peruvian
adolescents.
Methods: A total of 1,532 Peruvian adolescents were selected from six schools in poor
regions using stratified random sampling. The subjects were classified into two groups
based on their BMI: ‘normal weight group (NW group=980)’ or ‘overweight and obese
group (OWOB group=293)’. The differences in the general characteristics, dietary life,
drinking behavior, physical activity and leisure, mental health and subjective perception
of oneself in the two groups were compared. χ2 analysis and independent sample t-test
were performed using the SPSS program ver. 24.
Results: For the total and male students, the frequency of breakfast and dinner were
significantly lower in the OWOB group than in the NW group (all p<0.001). For total
and female students, the percentage of subjects who received nutrition education was
significantly higher in the OWOB group than in the NW group (all p<0.05). For total
students, the percentage of subject who exercised more than five days/week was lower
in the OWOB group than in the NW group (p<0.05). For the total and female students,
the subjective health status was worse in the OWOB group than in the NW group (all
p<0.05). The subjective body image was significantly different between the OWOB
group and NW group in the total, male and female subjects (all p<0.001).
Conclusions: The frequency of meals and exercise, and the subjective perceptions of
the health status and body image differed according to obesity in poor urban Peruvian
adolescents. Therefore, a school-based intervention program focused on regular meal
and exercise, and adequate subjective perceptions for health status and body image need
to be developed to prevent adolescent obesity.
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