The evaluation of students? knowledge levels on obesity and healthy nourishment in high schools

The purpose of this research is to evaluate views and attitudes of high school students towards obesity and healthy nourishment. It is to analyze whether the students develop attitudes according to their views.The research population constituted of 3,570 secondary education students from 3 high school which Anatolian High School, Vocational school and Even high school in Yenimahalle District and the data was collected during the period: February ? March 2010. The sampling of the research has been calculated as 357. However, when the effects that could have reduced the participation speed were considered, the number of sampling individuals were determined as 350. All students of specified classes were included within the scope of the research.It has been understood that a ratio of %70 of high school students did not feel pressure on themselves to reduce weight. It has also been determined that approximately %51.7 of high school students did not regularly eat three meals a day. When behaviors of unhealthy nourishment like eating snacks or eating just one big meal a day was compared to knowledge levels, significant differences have been ascertained. Also, the fact that economical matters did not form critical problems regarding nutrition has been recorded as a pleasing improvement.Significant differences in terms of attitude have been determined between people who had education on healthy nourishment and who did not. However, since high school students are in their age of growth and development and will need the knowledge they learned more in adulthood, suggestions regarding a more permanent education has also been presented.