Consumption of vegetables, fruits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors in Thai adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent is the period of both physical and mental changes. Many health-risk behaviors are the leading causes of health problems in the future. The objective of this study is to find the health-risk behaviors, including self weight-satisfaction, weight control methods, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, physical activities and sedentary behaviors in Thai adolescents. The survey was conducted among 966 Thai adolescents aged between 13 and 24 years old. The average age was 18.5±3.4 years, 44.8 % were female and 55.2 % were male. It was quite alarming that half of respondents (51.1 %) were unsatisfied with their weight. 22 % of them thought they were underweight while 29.1 % thought they were overweight. 36 % of the respondents controlled their weight by losing weight. 12.6 % of this group opted a more radical method of losing weight by fasting at least 24 hours. Fresh fruits and vegetables were not a part of the diet in twelve percent of these adolescents and forty percent had no physical activities during the past seven days. For sedentary behaviors, these adolescents had spent time more than two hours a day watching the television (63 %), and playing video or computer games (37 %). A campaign to promote safety weight control method, more consumption in fresh fruits and vegetables, more physical activities and less sedentary behaviors should be implemented.