Adolescent eating habits and practices and associated risk of overweight and obesity

Recent research in South Africa explored adolescent dietary habits and practices, and associated risk of overweight and obesity. Researchers examined three settings  in which eating occured most frequently (home, community, and school), while comparing rural versus urban, as well as early- versus mid-adolescents.

The findings revealed that dietary habits and practices in the home were linked to a higher risk of overweight and obesity. Irregular frequency of weekday breakfast consumption and eating the main mean with family on some days or almost every day were dietary patterns linked to increased risk. However, being male or  being a rural-based early adolescent were protective against the risk of overweight and obesity. For more information, read the full study here.