Behaviors and Subjective Health of the Egyptian Adolescent School Children

Azza Ali Taha^1, and Hala Marawan Mohammed¹

¹Public Health Department, Menoufia University, Egypt

Cite this paper:
Azza Ali Taha and Hala Marawan Mohammed. Behaviors and Subjective Health of the Egyptian Adolescent School Children. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2015; 3(6):229-234. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-3-6-5

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are many concerns nowadays about many issues in adolescent health behavior. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary behaviors among Egyptian adolescents and to assess how they perceive their physical and emotional health. METHODS: The study was cross sectional and was conducted from December 2014 to July 2015 in Menoufia governorate in Egypt. Number of adolescents participating in the study was 329. Their BMI percentile was calculated using a percentile online calculator. A questionnaire about health behaviors of the students and their perception of health was distributed. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among students was 18.8% and 10% respectively. Bad dietary and sedentary behaviors were common among them. Poor perception of health and negative feelings were also common. CONCLUSIONS: national surveys and health promotion programs are urgently needed to focus on health behaviors of the Egyptian adolescent children.

Keywords:
child and adolescent health nutrition and diet school health services

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