Obesity, nutritional status and related factors survey among Kiribati high school students

• Main Authors: TAI,CHU-YUN, 戴竹芸
• Other Authors: 曾明淑
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/46927397875704618753

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 營養科學系碩士班 === 103 === Kiribati located in south-east of Australia, across the Equator and the International Date Line, is a Pacific Ocean country and diplomatic allies of Taiwan. Dry hot weather and high salt concentration in the groundwater make it difficult to grow crops. It makes vegetable and fruit intake low in this country, most food are imported, including white rice and processed foods. World Health Organization reported the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 80.5%. Chronic disease mortality accounted for 69% of all causes of death. It is noted that weight and health status of adulthood are often related to eating behaviors during young age. From the point view of disease prevention, it is important to reveal the eating behaviors among young generation in Kiribati. The aim of the study was to investigate weight, nutritional status and related factors, including nutritional knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy among Kiribati high school students. There were 480 junior and senior high school students sampled in Tarawa, capital of Kiribati, in 2013. Nutritional knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy were assessed by questionnaires. Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess food, nutrient intakes and diet quality. Height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index to evaluated weight status. Results showed that overweight and obesity prevalence rate were 47.71% among Kiribati high school students. Female had higher obesity rate than male. Daily mean caloric intake was 3961.1±1399.8 kcal. Daily servings of staple food, meat, sea foods, dairy products, vegetables and fruits were 27.1 ±12.7, 2.2 ±1.7, 8.1 ±6.7, 0.6 ±0.7, 0.2 ±0.1 and 1.7 ±1.8 servings respectively. Daily amount of beverage were near 1000 ml. In addition, more beverage intake, the higher overweight and obesity rates. Diet quality score was 55.4±11.1 points on 100 point scale. Staple food, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, sodium and dietary variety scores were less than 5 points (each item composed of 10 points). Nutritional knowledge was poor and affected by parental education level. In conclusion, Kiribati high school students had high prevalence rates of overweight and obesity. Their diet composed of abundant calorie, rice, beverage and sodium, but lack of fruit, vegetable, dairy products and related nutrients. High school students’ nutritional knowledge required great improvement. The results of this study may be expected to be used of improving the nutritional status of Kiribati students.