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Background: Adolescence is a crucial period for development of dietary behaviors that continue into adulthood and influence the risk of chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to determine the eating patterns of adolescents' and their compliance with the Food Guide Pyramid. Methods: 625 students, aged between 11-15 years, from an elementary school in Istanbul, Turkey were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire of eating patterns (QEP) was administered to all participants. QEP is consisted of questions assessing the knowledge and behaviors on healthy eating, factors affecting food choice, physical activity status and demographical variables. Height and weight of all participants were measured. Physical activity status was determined by questioning about participation in regular sport activities, how much time spent watching TV, playing computer games or doing homework. Results: The mean age of the participants was 12.15 ± 1.15 and 50.5% were female. According to body mass index (BMI) percentiles, 8.3% (52) were obese and 10.2% were overweight. 51% had breakfast every day and only 1.9% met all the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. Among the participants, 31% have fast food at least once every day and 60.8% skip meals. When participants were asked to rate the factors effecting their food choice according to a 10 point Likert scale, the highest mean scores (high impact on food choice) were for the factors; family, health, body perception, teachers and friends; 7.5 ± 3.1, 7.4 ± 3.1, 6.1 ± 3.2, 4.8 ± 3.3 and 4.2 ± 3.0 respectively. Total mean time spent on all passive activities (TV, computer, reading homework etc) per day was 9.8 ± 4.7 hours. Conclusions: In this study we have demonstrated that, adolescents do not have healthy eating patterns. Educational interventions should be planned to decrease the health risks attributable to their eating behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the knowledge and behaviour of adolescents from a low socio-economic region of Istanbul, regarding smoking and how these variables are affected by their teachers' smoking status. Method: This is a descriptive study carried out between February-March 2007 among 6th-8th grade students of 3 primary schools in Tasdelen region. A questionnaire was filled out by adolescents under supervision about their smoking experience, related factors and whether the students were affected by their teachers' smoking behaviour. After descriptive and comparative analysis of the data, a logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Among the 560 participants, mean age was 13±1.08 (11-15). The incidence of a smoking experience at least once was 12%. At least one of the teachers was observed while smoking by 83.8% of the students, and 16% of them declared they were negatively affected by their teachers' smoking behaviour. Among the factors related to smoking experience, the teachers' smoking status (being a smoker) increased the risk of smoking significantly, according to the regression analysis (p=0,008;OR 7,476;95% CI 1,703-32,826). Conclusion: Adolescents are influenced by teachers' smoking at school. We think that the extent of this influence will decrease after the legislation (section number 5727, to take effect on July 19th 2009) prohibiting smoking in doors is passed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to explore the breast-feeding profiles and the factors that affect breast-feeding and weaning attitudes among mothers of 0-12 month old babies in a baby-friendly primary care unit. Material and Method: The study was conducted in a Mother and Child Health Centre in ıstanbul in May-October 2006. All 364 mothers who were registered in the health centre were enrolled. A total of 358 mothers were included in the study. Results: The frequencies of breastfeeding initiation and of breastfeeding within the first hour were 98.9 %and 62.3 %respectively. Among the babies older than 6 months (n=200), 52.5 %were weaned before 6 months. Pacifier use (OR 3.01, 95 %CI: 1.35-6.69), being preterm (OR: 3.36, 95 %CI: 1.04-10.79), having a job (OR: 2.83, 95%CI:1.14-7.04) or smoking (OR: 2.27, 95 %CI: 1.01-5.14) werefound to be risk factors for early weaning. Conclusion: Although the frequency of initiating breastfeeding is very high, the continuation duration is below the World Health Organization (WHO)'s recommendations. Physicians and other health workers should strongly recommend against smoking during, prenatal and postnatal visits. Physicians should not support pacifiers, until we have sufficient data to support its benefits. In order to increase the duration of breast feeding, health professionals should focus on preterm babies, smoking or working mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]