Health Implications of Feeding Habits as Perceived by Upper Basic Education Students in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Eating a healthy diet is the cornerstone of all round growth and development for infants, children and adolescents therefore; too much intake of foods that contain large amounts of saturated fats, sugars and salt, combined with a low intake of fruits, vegetables and cereal foods lead can result to health problems. This study examined health implications of feeding habits as perceived by upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria.

The descriptive research design of the survey method was used for this study. The population used for the study comprised all upper basic education students (public mixed schools) in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. Multi-stage sampling technique, consisting of simple, proportionate and systematic sampling technique was used to select 439 respondents in upper basic education schools (public mixed schools) in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. Researcher-designed questionnaire validated by 3 experts drawn from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, was used for data collection. A reliability co-efficient of .84r was obtained through Split-half method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Data collection was conducted by the researcher and three trained research assistants. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentage for demographic information as well as inferential statistics of Chi-square (X²) to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level.

The findings of the study showed that:

1. i.            Eating habits have significant influence on diseases as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X² value (70.05)  > critical value (12.59);
2. ii.            Eating habits have significant influence on body weight as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X² value (68.05)  > critical value (12.59); and
   1. iii.            Eating habits have significant influence on body posture as perceived by upper basic education students because calculated X² value (496.63) > critical value (12.59).

The study concluded that eating habits have significant influence on diseases, body weight and body posture among upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government, Oyo State. The findings implied that food intake can determine the overall wellbeing of the students, excessive intake and preference of some classes of food can lead to weight gain and intake of poor diet can result to bad posture. It was recommended that upper basic education students in Ona-Ara Local Government area of Oyo State should be given more enlightenment by health educators on diseases associated with poor feeding habits and proper orientation on exercises and food rich in calcium to avoid bad posture should be given to them.

Keywords: eating habits, diseases, body weight and body posture.