The Relationship Of Intake Of Breakfast, Lunch And Healthy Snacks On Nutritional Status In Adolescent Women Of Smp Negeri 2 Pekanbaru

Abstrak

Adolescence is a critical stage of growth and development during which individuals are highly vulnerable to various nutritional problems, including anemia, stunting, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. These nutritional problems are often associated with unhealthy dietary habits, such as skipping meals, irregular eating patterns, and inadequate consumption of nutritious foods. Regular consumption of breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks is essential to ensure adequate nutrient intake and maintain optimal nutritional status among adolescent girls. Therefore, understanding the relationship between daily dietary habits and nutritional status is important for developing effective nutrition education and intervention programs.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between breakfast, lunch, and healthy snack consumption and the nutritional status of adolescent girls at SMP Negeri 2 Pekanbaru. This research employed a quantitative approach with a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study involved 71 seventh-grade female students who were selected using the total sampling technique. Data on breakfast, lunch, and healthy snack consumption were collected using a structured questionnaire, while the nutritional status of the respondents was assessed by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test to examine the relationship between dietary habits and nutritional status. The results showed that the dietary habits of the respondents varied in terms of breakfast, lunch, and healthy snack consumption, as well as their nutritional status based on BMI classification. The Chi-Square analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between breakfast consumption and nutritional status (p = 0.004), lunch consumption and nutritional status (p = 0.004), and healthy snack consumption and nutritional status (p = 0.004). These findings indicate that adolescent girls who maintain healthier eating habits are more likely to have a normal nutritional status than those with poor dietary habits. In conclusion, breakfast, lunch, and healthy snack consumption are significantly associated with the nutritional status of adolescent girls. Healthy dietary habits play an important role in supporting optimal growth, development, and overall health during adolescence. The findings of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding adolescent nutrition and may serve as valuable information for students, schools, parents, healthcare professionals, and related institutions in designing and implementing nutrition education programs that encourage healthy eating behaviors among adolescents.