SHAPING ADOLESCENT HEALTH: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS STUDY OF DIETARY HABITS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SCREEN TIME IN SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study aims to assess the dietary intake behavior of school-going children in elementary, middle, and high school levels, examining their nutritional choices and habits. Additionally, it seeks to evaluate their physical activity levels both within and outside the school context to determine compliance with recommended guidelines for physical fitness. Furthermore, the research aims to quantify screen time exposure among these students, providing crucial insights into their media consumption patterns.

This cross-sectional study utilized the "Youth Profile Activity Questionnaire" to comprehensively examine the lifestyle behaviors of school-going children. The questionnaire was strategically divided into three major sections for clarity and convenience. Part A focused on assessing their activity levels both inside and outside of school, while Part B delved into inquiries about sedentary behaviors during weekends. Lastly, Part C was designed to gather detailed information regarding their dietary intake patterns.

This study involved 384 Karachi students, with a balanced gender distribution. Notably, many students chose active commuting (p = 0.051), but pre-school physical activity was statistically insignificant (p = 0.619). However, activity levels increased significantly after school and on weekends (p = 0.033 and p = 0.001). Concerns also arose about extended screen time and suboptimal diets, with significant findings regarding technology use (p = 0.34) and breakfast (p = 0.04). This research sheds light on key health trends among students, emphasizing the need for healthier lifestyles.

Despite the anticipation of different results, the significance of the findings suggests that the lifestyle of school-going students is suboptimal. Therefore, we recommend schools implement physical education (PE) classes and encourage parents to ensure their children have a healthy diet while also limiting excessive laptop, computer, and mobile phone usage