ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Safina Lami Ahmed; Abdullahi Balarabe Sallau; Sanusi Bello Mada; Bilya Bashir

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Research Article
Online Published: 11 Nov 2026

JIRLS. 2026; 8(2): 31-39

ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Safina Lami Ahmed, Abdullahi Balarabe Sallau, Sanusi Bello Mada, Bilya Bashir.

Abstract
Adolescence (10-19 years) is a critical period during which adequate nutrition influences cognitive development and academic performance. This study assessed the relationship between nutritional status and academic performance among adolescents in public secondary schools in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. Most students (76.0%) had low dietary diversity, while 14.7% and 9.3% had high and moderate diversity, respectively. Height-for-age assessment showed that 83.4% were normal, with mild (12.7%), moderate (3.5%), and severe (0.4%) stunting observed. Based on BMI-for-age Z-scores (BAZ), 57.1% were normal, 28.6% overweight, 8.9% thin, 3.9% obese, and 1.5% severely thin. Academic performance was significantly associated with BAZ (χ² = 35.38, df = 20, p = 0.019), with students of normal BAZ more likely to achieve “A” grades (55.6%) compared to overweight/obese (33.3%) and thin students (11.2%). A significant association was also observed between academic performance and anaemia status (χ² = 27.796, df = 5, p = 0.001). Anaemic students were more prevalent in lower grades, while non-anaemic students were more likely to achieve higher grades. These findings highlight the need for school-based nutritional interventions, including improved dietary diversity and anaemia prevention strategies, to enhance academic outcomes among adolescents.

Key words: Adolescent, Malnutrition, Anaemia, Academic Performance, BMI.

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Ahmed SL, Sallau AB, Mada SB, Bashir B. ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. JIRLS. 2026; 8(2): 31-39.

Web Style

Ahmed SL, Sallau AB, Mada SB, Bashir B. ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. https://www.jirlsonline.com/?mno=340383 [Access: November 11, 2026].

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Ahmed SL, Sallau AB, Mada SB, Bashir B. ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. JIRLS. 2026; 8(2): 31-39.

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Harvard Style

Ahmed, S. L., Sallau, . A. B., Mada, . S. B. & Bashir, . B. (2026) ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. JIRLS, 8 (2), 31-39.

Turabian Style

Ahmed, Safina Lami, Abdullahi Balarabe Sallau, Sanusi Bello Mada, and Bilya Bashir. 2026. ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. Journal of Innovative Research in Life Sciences, 8 (2), 31-39.

Chicago Style

Ahmed, Safina Lami, Abdullahi Balarabe Sallau, Sanusi Bello Mada, and Bilya Bashir. "ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA." Journal of Innovative Research in Life Sciences 8 (2026), 31-39.

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