Testing habits and diet quality of schoolgirls

Aim To examine the nutritional status, dietary habits, attitudesand knowledge about the importance of proper nutritionand physical activity, as well as raising awareness of the activeeffects of proper nutrition on the performance, their psychophysicalactivity and general health throughout further growthand development.Methods The study was conducted by surveying 267 7–14 yearsold girls, participants of the Fun School Soccer tournamentin Travnik during 2012. The survey contained 22 questionsthat were related to the ingrained habits, related to their dietwhich the participants anonymously filled in.Results The results of the BMI showed that 94 (35.2%) studentshad a desirable body weight, 165 (61.8%) were thin andmalnourished, and 8 (3%) had increased body weight. Theaverage age of respondents was 13. Out of the total numberof surveyed participants 11 (4.1%) never consumed sweets, 28(10.5%) consumed less than once a week, 39 (14.6%) oncea week, 67 (25.1%) 2-4 days a week, 41 (15.4%) 5-6 days aweek, 36 (13.5%) once a day, every day, and 45 (16.9%) consumedsweets every day, several times a day.Conclusion The results indicate the existence of problems relatedto malnutrition and malnourishment. The introductionof teaching contents and various workshops on healthy eatingwould ensure timely correction of poor eating habits, and providethe possibility of forming a positive attitude about physicalactivity, health and aesthetic problems that can arise fromthat.