Nutritional Status and Academic Performance of Adolescent Students in Boarding Secondary Schools in Borno State

This study investigates the relationship between nutritional status and academic performance among adolescent students in boarding secondary schools in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Conflict-related disruptions in Borno State have severely compromised school feeding systems and household food security, raising concerns about the nutritional adequacy of adolescents in institutional settings. Employing a cross-sectional analytical design, the study targets 350 adolescent students in four government boarding secondary schools in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. Anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin testing, dietary recall, and school academic records were used for data collection. Objectives include determining the nutritional status of students, examining their dietary patterns, and quantifying the relationship between nutritional indicators and academic performance scores. Analytical methods include Pearson correlation, linear regression, and chi-square. The Brain Nutrition Model frames the study, linking micronutrient status and energy adequacy to cognitive function and academic performance. Recent literature from conflict-affected regions of North East Nigeria documents high rates of anaemia and energy deficiency among school-age adolescents, with documented impairment of concentration and memory. Findings are expected to reveal significant positive correlations between nutritional status indicators and academic performance. Recommendations address the Borno State Ministry of Education, UNICEF Nigeria, and school management regarding nutritional rehabilitation and school feeding restoration programmes. Keywords: nutritional status, academic performance, adolescents, boarding schools, Borno State.