Jornal Global de Biologia, Agricultura e Ciências da Saúde

Abstrato

DIETARY INTAKE OF BOARDING STUDENTS IN TWO SELECTED NATIONAL SCHOOLS, KENYA

Mberia RK, Imungi JK,Mbugua SK

The quality and quantity of food intake by an individual to a large extent determines the degree of nourishment and eventually his/her weight. The study aimed at investigating dietary intake by the students in two selected National schools in Kenya. The study utilised a cross-sectional study design. A sample of 183 students of ages 14-17 years were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected using food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour measured food intake. T-test was used to determine significance differences at 0.05 significance level. Results showed that the intake of bread, chapatti, buns, ice cream, oranges, french fries, cakes, soda and sugar sweetened beverages were significantly (p<0.05) different between girls and boys. Intake of other foods was not significantly different girls and boys. Further, there was no significant difference in dietary intake of energy and protein between male and female students with regard to RDAs.