Understanding in the exercise and nutrition for controlling healthcare of adolescents in new normal life
Keywords:
Overweight or obesity, Adolescents, New normal life, Exercise, NutritionAbstract
Introduction: Obesity is an important problem in the Thai public health system, same as the global situation where the incidence has increased rapidly following the COVID-19 outbreak. Objective: This study aimed to assess health status, evaluate exercise and nutrition and compare the understanding of exercise and nutrition for controlling healthcare among adolescents in new normal life. Method: The sample group consisted of 112 adolescents living in university dormitories. The research instrument was a data recording from consisting of personal information, physical and mental health information, and the information of perceiving about exercise and nutrition. The descriptive cross-sectional study was designed, and the factors were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the significance level of .05. Result: The aged at 18-21 years adolescents who lived in dormitories were 78 females (69.64%) and 34 males (30.36%). It was found in 73 cases, 65.18% within the normal weight (BMI < 18.5-22.9). The prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 23.0) was found in 39 cases, 34.82%. The exercise and nutrition awareness were related to overweight problem, which was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity and overweight among adolescents who live in dormitories is related to sedentary behavior, lack of adequate exercise and nutritional imbalance. The above factors are all related to the lifestyles of overweight adolescents, that occurred after the COVID-19 outbreak situation. This affects health problems, especially overweight and obesity. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including educational programs that promote physical activity and healthy eating habits. Additionally, implementing structured routines and support systems within dormitory setting could help mitigate the risk of obesity and encourage healthier lifestyle choices among adolescents.
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