Objective: To determine the level of knowledge about nourishment/nutrition and how this knowledge is distributed among school adolescent population in the town of Cádiz.
Design: Descriptive and transversal study.
Setting: Schools.
Participants: Sample of 630 subjects from the school adolescent population in the town of Cádiz.
Measurements and main results: The average level of knowledge about nourishment/nutrition is 6.63 (in a 0-13 scale). No significant differences were found according to the perception of proportion or disproportion in height and weight, level of concern about body fats and getting fat, diets, avoiding some food or taking some medication, dietary fibers and infusions or any other weight-reducing products and physical exercise and fitting. The relationship between the level of knowledge and the BMI is very close to statistical significance.
Conclusions: We found a middle level of knowledge about nourishment/nutrition. We think this level of knowledge should be raised and other factors determining healthy habits should be considered. It is necessary to go on with research and contextualize nourishment habits.