ABSTRACT
This study investigates the relationship between dietary. Four (4) research questions were raised to guide the study.
The study adopted a descriptive survey of a correlational type. The population for this study consisted of four hundred (400) students in public junior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State. (Ministry of Education, 2024). The sample size of the study was made up of eighty (80) Junior secondary school students in Egor local government area of Edo state. A proportionate sampling technique of 20% was used to arrive at the sample size of the study. The instruments used for data collection for the study were Anthropometric measurement using The Body Mass Index (BMI) and a structured questionnaire titled: “The Relationship Between Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status Questionnaire (RBDPNSQ) The instrument for data collection was subjected to face validity by the researcher's supervisor and two other experts from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City.
Findings indicated that there is significant relationship between dietary pattern and nutritional status. Challenges such as poor dietary pattern, and solution such as,
healthy eating habits was suggested. Recommendations included School should Implement health education programs in schools focusing on nutrition and the importance of physical activity. Students should be taught nutrition education at all
levels, Nutrition Education that would equip them with knowledge of knowing the
consequences that comes with having an unhealthy nutritional status (overweight).
Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that dietary pattern significantly relates to the nutritional status of junior secondary school students in Local area of Edo State. In other words, it means that the unhealthy dietary pattern practiced by the students affected their nutritional status directly i.e A poor / unhealthy dietary pattern will cause an unhealthy nutritional status
