Enquête sur la consommation des fruits et des légumes chez des adolescents dans la région d’Ain Témouchent

Abstract

Adolescence is one of the most dynamic periods in human development. It is characterized by physiological and psychic and cognitive and behavioral changes seeking independence and identity. The basis of a teenager's diet remains about the same as the one he had as a child. Only the portions will increase slightly as well as the preferred consumption of certain foods. This consumption is the subject of recommendations at the global level by the FAO and the WHO. The objective of this work is to evaluate the dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables in adolescents in the region of Ain Témouchent. The study carried out on 103 adolescents who answered 4 questionnaires (socio-economic, clinical, food knowledge, frequency of food consumption). The adolescents surveyed have an average BMI equal to 23.2 (kg/m²) which is included in the range (23.0 to 28.0) (kg/m²), so according to WHO standards, adolescents are considered overweight. The consumption of dairy products, starches, fruits and vegetables is lower than the recommendations, while that of sugary products, sugary drinks and fatty substances exceeds the recommendations among the adolescents who were questioned. The consumption of meat, fish and eggs is within the norms. The evaluation showed that (56.18%) adolescents do not have a good knowledge of food composition. Our study shows that adolescents have very little knowledge about the value of fruit and vegetables in their daily diet, hence unbalanced food consumption. Nutrition education, emphasizing the nutritional benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption and balanced diet, should be integrated into this age group in the school environment.