IMPACT OF THE EATING BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS AT THE LYCÉE MODERNE DE SONGON (ABIDJAN) ON THEIR NUTRITIONAL STATUS

The eating behavior of schoolchildren directly influences their nutritional status and growth. The objective of this study was to describe the eating behavior of students at the Lycée Moderne de Songon (Abidjan) and to assess its impact on their nutritional status. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 214 students and covered sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric parameters and eating habits (timing, frequency, carbohydrate and protein sources of meals, sports activity). The study sample comprised 52.34% girls and 47.66% boys, with a mean age of 13.35 ± 1.45 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 18.23 ± 2.97 kg/m². The prevalence of underweight was 8.41% and that of overweight 6.54%, and 85.05% of the students had a normal nutritional status. No statistically significant association was observed between nutritional status and the timing of the main meal (p = 0.439), daily meal frequency (p = 0.855), carbohydrate source (p = 0.597), carbohydrate accompaniment (p = 0.794), protein source (p = 0.309), type of sports activity (p = 0.877), its frequency (p = 0.677) or its daily duration (p = 0.185). Although the nutritional status of most students remains satisfactory, the coexistence of underweight and overweight calls for nutritional vigilance in the school setting, beyond the eating behaviors studied here.