Food choices of adolescents and its associated health implications. in Adansi north district of Ghana

The purpose of the study was to investigate the food choices of teenagers and the health related problems of food consumed by teenagers. The study was conducted in two senior high schools in the Adansi North District of Ghana. The simple random technique was used to select 205 students. Questionnaire were used to elicit information from the students. Data was analysed descriptively. The study revealed that staple food of most students is ‘kenkey’ and fish therefore it is likely they may lack valuable nutrients from other food sources. It was also revealed that most students feel hungry in the afternoon which implies that they are given little or no money for lunch at school. Most students (65.3%) eat together with the whole family so until they go back home no food for them. Those who eat in school also make decision on choice of food based on what they can afford. The study also revealed that the major source of influence of the teenagers’ food choice is their parents since food choice for the adolescents are largely informed by food availability and affordability. It also indicated that most of the adolescent (72.8%) buy their own food from the street food vendors. The researchers therefore recommended that all stakeholders should help to support the teenagers to choose the right and balanced food as this determine the kind of adults they may be in future.