Eating behavior and anthropometric assessment of Roman adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate eating behavior, anthropometric data and physical activity of 230 adolescents (mean age 18.2 +/- 0.6) and to assess whether their diets corresponded to their effective nutritional needs. A high percentage of adolescents had an inadequate breakfast or skipped it altogether. Average energy intake was below the Italian Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) in the females (1640 +/- 47), with lower carbohydrate intake (50%); 79% of the females consumed less than 2000 kcal/day. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was found to be within the normal range in both males (22.1 +/- 24) and females (20.8 +/- 2.3). In the females, this trend could be explained by low energy expenditure due to low physical activity: only 41% practiced sport compared with 79% of the males. The results also show that more males frequented fast-food stores than females and that: food choice was predominantly meat, cheese and chips.