Correlation of Nutrition and Physical Activity on BMI Values in Adolescents

Abstract

Proper nutrition and regular physical activity from early childhood are important prerequisites for healthy growing up. Conversely, in children and adolescents, over time, there may be an increase in the body mass index (BMI), which results in the development of obesity. The goal. The main goal of the paper is to point out the correlation between proper nutrition and BMI values in adolescents of the secondary medical school in Bihać. Methods. The respondents are students of both sexes, from the first to the third grade of the secondary medical school in Bihać, aged 15 to 17. The total number of students included in the research was 120. The time of data collection is 04.11. - 29.11.2022. year The respondents were divided into two groups, working and control, with 60 students in each group. The working group consisted of students from first to third grade who had irregular food intake during the week (≤ 1x-2x a week) and were physically inactive. The control group consisted of students from the first to the third grade who had a proper food intake (2x or ≥3x a week) and were physically active (≥3x a week for 60 min). Results. Mean values of BMI (29.14 kg/m2) in students of the work group from I-III grades who had irregular food intake (≤ 1x-2x a week) and were not physically active in relation to BMI (21.79 kg/m2) of the control group of I-III graders who were physically active and had a proper food intake (≥ 3x per week) is statistically significantly different in favor of the control group of students (p=0.039). Conclusion. Proper food intake with regular physical activity in adolescents has positive effects on BMI values and represents an important segment in the prevention of obesity in adults and older people.