Introduction:

dietary habits are gradually acquired from childhood to adolescence with the influence of cultural factors and social environment resulting in errors on their diet.

Objective:

to characterize the nutritional status, consumption and eating habits of adolescents at a multi-grade school in Pinar del Río during October and November 2017.

Method:

a descriptive and cross-sectional research concerning the nutritional status, consumption and eating habits in adolescents of both sexes between 12 and 17 years old at a school in Pinar de Río, a random sample included 400 subjects. A survey was applied to characterize the dietary habits, anthropometric measurements of weight and height were made, and the abdominal circumference was measured in all schoolchildren who were included in the sample. Descriptive statistics was used by absolute and relative percentage frequencies.

Results:

according to the body mass index, 13 % of obese and 25 % overweight adolescents were detected; with an abdominal circumference in atypical values ​​23 % of adolescents, and 16 % with figures considered as risk values ​​for obesity. They skip breakfast, eat few quantities of fruits and vegetables, buy fast-food in cafeterias and confirmed their preferences for high-fat meals.

Conclusions:

the existence of poor eating habits was corroborated and a dietary guide was prepared including guidelines for teachers and parents to promote changes in the lifestyle of children and adolescents.

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