The COVID-19 process caused many health problems worldwide, as well as restrictions, a sedentary life and unhealthy eating habits. Monitoring changes in physical activity and nutritional behaviours, especially in adolescents during normalisation processes, is considered important in terms of monitoring public health. Adolescence is a critical period in which individuals transition from childhood to adulthood and experience rapid changes both physically and psychosocially. Promoting healthy living habits in this age group is of great importance for long-term health. The aim of this study is to examine physical activity, nutritional behaviour and BMI levels in high school students and the relationships between them in the post-COVID-19 period. A total of 470 students, 278 girls (14±3.4 years old) and 192 boys (14±3.1 years old), studying in general secondary schools in Uşak province, participated in the study voluntarily. ‘Personal Information Form’, “Physical Activity Questionnaire” to determine physical activity status and “Nutrition Behaviour Scale” to determine nutritional behaviours were used as data collection tools in the study. The kg/m2 formula accepted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) was used to determine the body mass index of the students who participated in the study. The data obtained in the study were analysed using SPSSIBM 26 package programme. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis techniques were used in the analysis of the data. As a result, physical activity levels of the participants (X¯= 25,37±5,759) were found to be quite low, nutritional behaviour scores (X¯= -2,04±5,221) were found to be very bad, and Body Mass Index scores (X¯= 21,2343±2,76047) were found to be within normal limits. While girls exhibited lower BMI than boys in BMI scores, physical activity levels and nutritional behaviour scores did not differ. A positive relationship was found between the physical activity and nutritional behaviour scores of the participants according to their BMI classifications.
Physical activity, nutrition, health, body mass index