An Assessment of Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours of Adolescents in Selected Secondary Schools Guyana.

Abstract

Background In Guyana, the five leading causes of death are ischaemic heart disease, cerebro-vascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Maintaining healthy eating habits and adequate daily physical activity could prevent many of these conditions. Aim The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary and physical activity behaviours of adolescents in selected secondary schools of Guyana. Methods A cross-sectional Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey was conducted in 12 secondary schools; two schools each from coastal regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, 724 students in Form1 to four participated. A National Youth Physical Activity and Nutritional Survey (NYPANS) tool was used for data collection. Height and weight were measured using standard protocols. Descriptive and inferential statistics 95% confidence intervals and Chi-squared were computed using SPSS IBM 20. Results Fifty-four per cent of students reported participating in physical activity that made them sweat and breathe hard for at least 20 minutes on three or more of the previous seven days. Almost half (48.7%) of the students played video or computer games for one or more hours on an average school day. The percentage of students who reported not attending PE classes at all at school was 56.3%. Only 12.6% and 12.9% of students reported eating two or more cups of fruit and vegetables, respectively each day. Conclusion Results from this study reveal that participation in healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours among adolescents in selected secondary schools of Guyana, is far from optimal.