[Energy and nutrient intake in compulsory high school students].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the dietary habits and energy and nutrient intake in secondary education students in a rural setting in order to design nutritional intervention strategies.


METHODS
A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, stratified according to scholastic year, was randomly distributed to 406 adolescents (194 boys and 212 girls) aged between 13 and 16 years.


RESULTS
Mean energy and nutrient intake was significantly higher in girls than in boys. In both sexes, 20.1% of energy was derived from meat, 17.7% from milk and milk products, 15.4% from cereals, 14.6% from sweets, 12.9% from vegetables, 7.2% from oils, 5% from fruits, 1.7% from eggs and 0.7% from fish. Protein accounted for 14.8% of energy intake, carbohydrates for 41.7%, total fat for 43.5%, and saturated fat for 16.5%. Cholesterol intake was excessive and over two-thirds of protein intake was from animal sources. The mean intakes of calcium and magnesium, vitamins C and D and folate in boys, and the mean intakes of calcium, magnesium and iron, and vitamins C and D, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate in girls were below recommended levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The dietary patterns of the secondary school students differed from the Mediterranean diet. Intakes of meat and sugar were too high, while that of cereals, legumes, fruits and fish were insufficient, leading to excessive fat intake from animal sources at the expense of complex carbohydrates and insufficient mineral and vitamin intake. Nutritional advice should be increased in primary care programs and nutritional education programs should be developed in secondary schools.
Durá Travé
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Departamento de Pediatría. Clínica Universitaria de Navarra. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Navarra.
D000293:Adolescent; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires