Adolescents' Diet and Exrercise Practices: A Study in 9th Grade at Two Swedish Schools/Ungdomars Kost- Och Motionsvanor: En Undersokning I Arskurs 9 Pa Tva Svenska Skolor (Sykepleievitenskap * Omvardnadsforskning * Nursing Science‪)‬

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine adolescents' diet and exercise practices and to identify possibly differences between vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescents and between genders. The study population was adolescents in the 9th grade in two Swedish schools. A questionnaire regarding meal habits, sweets consumption and physical exercise was answered by 143 adolescents (69 girls and 74 boys). Length and weight were recorded and BMI was calculated. Eleven percent of the adolescents were classified as having overweight. Most of the subjects ate breakfast daily, but only slightly more than 50 % of them ate the school-lunch daily. About 90 % of the adolescents consumed sweets, snacks and soft drinks at least once a week. Nearly all of them participated in physical training during school time, and 75 % of the boys and 63 % of the girls were exercising regularly after school. Although there were only ten vegetarians (7%) in this group some differences could be identified. In spite of poor physical activity and irregular meals, none of the vegetarians had overweight.