INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND FOOD PREFERENCE AMONG OVERWEIGHT STUDENTS OF NAAWAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL PHILIPPINES

This study aims to determine the influence of physical activities and food preference among overweight students of Naawan, Misamis Oriental. This study adopted the descriptive survey and structured interview design and the profile of the study was generally expressed in percentage and mean. This study was conducted on 11 boys and 12 girls overweight students of Naawan, Misamis Oriental that were identified using a standard health-related physical fitness test with its corresponding score scale to measure their health classification. A sample of 102 respondents was used. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Data was analyzed in both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study establishes that the major cause of overweight is decreased light physical activity and the freedom of making their own choices of food also plays a significant factor in the development of overweight and obesity. The study recommended that students should have regular physical activity and parents should encourage their children to do household chores and to follow the food guide for Filipinos.