MANGARE,TABUSIA GODSON2025-02-182025-02-182011https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6566ThesisThis study was conducted in Arumeru District and Arusha Municipality to represent rural and urban areas respectively. The main objective of the study was to determine factors that influence food choice and Body Mass Index among rural and urban adolescents. A cross- sectional research design was used to collect data. Respondents’ selection was done using multistage, purposive and simple random sampling. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview sampled 278 male and female adolescents. Height and weight measurements were taken from the interviewed adolescents. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 12.0. W1 lO-AnthroPhis software was used to compute BMI-for-age (Z-score) and the mean ±SD was 0.46 ±1.20. The study revealed that education level of the mother, nutrition/healthy benefits and taste of the food were the major determinants of respondents’ food choice. The statistical difference (P < 0.001) was found between the preferred food (from globalized/exotic food) and residence. These respondents usually consumed types of food from traditional/local food, no significant difference (P< 0.05) was found between rural and urban adolescents. However more respondents (93.2%) ate globalizcd/exotic foods than traditional/local foods (5%) as snacks. Factors that affect nutrition status of respondents are education level of parents/guardians, socioeconomic status, sex and residence. Prevalence of overweight/obese adolescents was higher in urban (19.0%) than rural (1.5%) adolescents and in female (15.2%) than male (5.3%) adolescents. The significant difference (P <0.05) was found in the awareness and attitude towards globalized or exotic foods between urban and rural adolescents. It is recommended from this study that the responsible authority should emphasize on nutrition education to the public and schools so as to build a healthy nation.enFood choiceBody mass indexUrban adolescentsThesis