Determining the relationship between nutritional and physical activity conditions of adolescents living in orphanges and their health and body compositions

The present study was planned and implemented with the purpose of determining the relationship between the nutritional and physical activity conditions of adolescents living in orphanages in Ankara and their health and body compositions. Total one hundred and ninety-eight adolescents within the age group 13-18 living in orphanages in Ankara between the years 2006 and 2007, out of which 115 are boys and 83 are girls, constitute the cosmos of the study. Data of the study were collected in three stages; in the first stage, the question set developed to determine the nutritional states and habits of individuals. In the second stage, frequency of food consumption of adolescents, 24-hour reminders and physical activity were recorded. In the third stage, anthropometric measurements of the adolescents were taken, and data concerning their health conditions were determined through biochemical measurements.It was found in the study that 13.9% of boys and 31.3% of girls had health problems, and 13.9% of boys and 9.6% of girls smoked. It was also found that 69.6% boys and 91.6% of girls skipped meals, and among those skipping meals, 34.8% of boys and 61.4% of girls skipped breakfast most. It was found that more than half of boys (63.0%) and girls (65.0%) were pickers as regards what they eat, 17.2% of adolescents never consumed milk, and 40.9% never consumed red meat. When daily mean energy and nutrient intakes of adolescents were evaluated according to Nutrition Guide Unique for Turkey, it was found that boys ate diets insufficient in vitamin A, folic acid, Vitamin B12, potassium, calcium and magnesium, and girls ate diets insufficient in energy, vitamin A, Vitamin B1, folic acid, Vitamin B12, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It was found that anthropometric measurements of adolescents were within normal limits; however, their activity levels were below those recommended. Of the male and female adolescents participating in the study, mean values for diastolic and systolic blood pressures, serum glucose, BUN, ALT, AST, calcium, cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, protein, albumin, zinc, iron, iron binding capacity, Vitamin B12 levels were found within the reference normal limits for adolescents between ages 13 and 18. Serum glucose, BUN, calcium, protein, albumin, iron binding capacity, and vitamin B12 levels showed statistically significant differences according to gender. Mean values of serum glucose, BUN, protein, albumin, zinc, and vitamin B12 levels were found higher in boys as compared to girls. In girls however, mean values of calcium and serum iron binding capacity were found higher as compared to boys. HEI score for %15.7% of adolescent boys (n=18) were evaluated as ?bad? for 80.9% (n=86) as ?medium? and for 3.5% (n=6) as ?good?. No statistically significant differences were found between the mean values of blood tests of the adolescents according to HEI score (p>0.05).It is recommended that a training program for correcting the diet habits of adolescents living in orphanages and reinforcing their knowledge in nutrition and health areas should be developed and implemented, and similar studies should be repeated with certain intervals.