Francisca Chika Anyanwu
(Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria)

 

 

Abstract: Nutrition is germane to man’s activities as everyone is basically a product of his/her nutrition. In-school adolescents are growing children with diverse developmental needs of which nutrition is important. Due to the overwhelming connection between nutrition and sound health and academic performance, it is important to survey the extent to which nutritional habit influence academic performance of in-school adolescents. It is in an effort to add to existing body of knowledge and explore other factors related to academic performance that this study was designed to investigate influence of nutrition behaviour on academic performance of in-school adolescents in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State. The descriptive survey research design was used in the study with the population being in-school adolescents in Ibadan North LGA. Multi stage sampling technique was employed to select 1080 respondents from the 30 senior secondary schools in the local government area while a self developed and validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.88 Cronbach alpha was used in generating data. Generated data were analyzed using inferential statistics of regression models and t-test at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study revealed that notable nutritional behaviour significantly influenced academic performance (F = 10.904, R2 Adj. = 0.011, p = 0.001< 0.05). It was also found that male respondents engaged more in healthier nutrition behaviour compared to their female counterparts (tcal = 15.924; tcrit. = 1.96, p = 0.000 < 0.05) while there was no significant gender difference in academic performance (tcal = 1.920; tcrit. = 1.96, p = 0.06 > 0.05). Based on the finding of the study, it was concluded that nutrition behaviour significantly influence academic performance. School meal programme, sensitization of parents on nutritional knowledge and students on good nutrition habit for health and not for aesthetic value were recommended.

 

 

Key words: nutrition behaviour, academic performance, in-school adolescents, gender difference