An assessment of dietary and physical activity behaviors of adolescents in selected secondary schools of Guyana

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dietary and physical activity behaviors of adolescents in selected secondary schools of Guyana. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (NYPANS) was conducted in 12 secondary schools; 2 schools from each of the coastal regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. Systematic stratified random sampling technique was used to draw 724 students in Forms 1 to 4. Dietary and physical activity behaviors were assessed by the NYPANS tool, a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Just over half (54%) of students reported participating in physical activity that made them sweat and breathe hard for at least 20 minutes on 3 or more of the previous 7 days. Similarly, half (48.7%) of the students played video or computer games for one or more hours on an average school day. At school 56.3% of students reported not ever attending physical education (PE) classes and 26.4% drank a glass of soda 2 or more times per day during past 7 days. Only 12.6% and 12.9% of students reported eating 2 or more cups of fruit and vegetables respectively each day. CONCLUSION: Participation in healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors among adolescents in selected secondary schools of Guyana is far from optimal.