Journal of North Khorasan

Abstract Background & Objectives: The high prevalence of obesity, especially among adolescence, is one of the most important problems of societies. In addition to genetic factors, dietary habits and lifestyle (physical and leisure time activity) are the factors that could influence the prevalence of obesity. This study aimed to determine the pattern of food consumption and physical activity among high school students in the North Khorasan Province Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 high school students in North Khorasan. A multistage sampling was done. Data were collected for each subject using a questionnaire consist of anthropometric, demographic, dietary habits and lifestyle (physical and leisure time activity) information. Statistical paired t-test, chi-square, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used to analyze data using SPSSversion16 Results: From the 450 study population, 228 were females (50.7%). The prevalence of obesity was higher in girls in comparison with boys. Up to 60.2% and 64.5% of boys and 38.6% and 47.4% of girls in the morning and evening shift of the school eat breakfast during the weekdays, respectively. The boys were doing more Physical activity compare with girls .Up to 35% of students during weekdays were watching television for two hours, while on holidays 39.8% were watching about 4 hours. Statistically significant association was found between BMI and eating snacks while watching TV, working with computer, eating dinner, eating snacks in the morning and afternoon, rice consumption for meals, using bread with the meals, consumption of raw vegetables and fruit during the week, cooking methods of rice,and attending in the sports class during summer.(P <0.005) Conclusion: high prevalence of obesity, receiving high calorie in diet and poor dietary habits,and physical inactivity in adolescence need careful educational and cultural planning by the authorities and health policy makers.