FACTORS AFFECTING THE EATING HABITS OF ADOLESCENTS AGED (15-17 YEARS) IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING BALANCED NUTRITION

Abstrak

Teenagers aged between 15 and 17 are going through a rapid growth phase, so they need a balanced nutritional intake. However, many of them adopt unhealthy eating habits. This study aims to identify and analyze various factors that influence adolescent eating patterns, both from an internal perspective (such as knowledge about nutrition, attitudes toward food, food choices, and physical activity) and from an external perspective (including family environment, social media, school, community, as well as demographic factors like age, gender, and socioeconomic status). The findings of this study reveal that adolescents' eating patterns are greatly influenced by the complex interactions between these various factors, which in turn directly affect the achievement of balanced nutrition. Therefore, a comprehensive intervention approach involving various sectors is needed to encourage the establishment of healthy eating habits among adolescents.