Nutritional Habits of High School Students, Probiotic Dairy Products Consumption Frequency and Their Identification Statements

Abstract

This research was carried out in order to determine information about the nutritional habbits, probiotic dairy product consumption frequency and the identifications of students in their high school years. A total of 374 students participated in the research which included 183 female students and 191 male students who were still continuing their education at the central high schools attached to Pendik/Kurtköy County of Istanbul. A screening model and questionnaire forms were used in the research as tools for data collection. The average heights of female students who participated in the research was 164.89±6.14 cm, their average weight was 55.25±7.86 kg while in male students the average height was 172.64±7.99 cm and average weight was 63.91±11.14 kg. 23.6% of the students stated that they do in fact skip meals, while 46.0% said they do not, and 13.6% said that they sometimes skip meals. 78.3% of the students indicated that they consume probiotic food and 21% stated that they do not. 32.9% stated they do so upon recommendation while 30.7% of those who do not consume said they do not because they did not know about it.
According to the data obtained through the research: 41.6% of high school students consume yogurt, 33.6% consume milk while the same figure reduced down to 2.9% for kefir and 3.6% kumiss. Accordingly, solution proposals were offered in order to carry out studies on raising awareness among students about adequate and balanced nutrition as well as informing them about dairy products other than the well-known ones (yogurt, milk, etc.) and to increase their consumption of such products. Statistical evaluation was produced using SPSS 22.0 software. Frequency, percentage distribution calculation and chi-square test were used as statistical analysis in the research.