OBJECTIVES: to characterize the nutritional status and dietary intake of adolescents attending public schools in the city of São Mateus do Sul, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: the Body Mass Index was calculated and classified as proposed by the World Health Organization. Dietary intake was calculated using the Survey of Consumer Food Frequency. Analysis was carried out using descriptive and frequency analysis, and Student's t test with p<0.05. RESULTS: most individuals presented a normal nutritional status (84% being eutrophic, 12% overweight/obese and 4% underweight). The diet was characterized by adequate energy intake, with a distribution of nutrients in accordance with recommendations and higher in boys than in girls. Ninety percent of the adolescents had an excessive intake of fatty acids. There was adequate intake of vitamin C (287 mg and 328 mg for boys and girls respectively) and iron (27 and 21 mg respectively). The consumption of iron differed significantly between the genders (t=3.765; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the abnormalities found in dietary intake demonstrate the need for better understanding and evaluation of the type of food offered to students, as a way of developing strategies for intervention both within and outside of schools, and of helping prevent health problems related to nutrition.
Adolescence; Nutritional status; Food consumption
