EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED WEIGHT STATUS AND HEALTHY DIETARY HABITS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Weight status and healthy daily dietary habits are two variables that are essential to American health. There are many factors that relates to daily dietary habits within the high school population. Some factors include: social economic status, social pressures and, academic performance. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between daily consumption of healthy dietary choices of high school students when examining their perceived weight status and body mass index. This study used the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to look at the dietary habits of high school students in America. There were five questions used to identify daily healthy dietary habits which included: consumption of breakfast, milk, fruit, vegetable, and no soda. If the students selected “Yes” to consuming any of these choices daily, it counted as one tally for making a healthy dietary choice. The results indicated that students consumed 3 out of 5 healthy dietary choices daily. As well as students who perceived themselves as slightly overweight and very overweight whom wanted to lose weight, did not choose to make healthier dietary choices compared to someone who was normal weight and did not want to lose weight. Body mass index was shown not to be a significant variable.