Diet quality and anthropometric status of in-school female adolescents in Odeda, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract Background Adolescence is a critical period for establishing dietary patterns that influence growth, body composition, and long-term risk of non-communicable diseases. In Nigeria, limited population-based evidence exists on diet quality and its relationship with anthropometric status among female adolescents, particularly using standardised global diet quality indicators. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 in-school female adolescents aged 13–17 years (mean age: 15.19 ± 1.05 years) in public and private secondary schools in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State. Dietary intake was assessed using the Diet Quality Questionnaire for Nigeria (DQQ-Nigeria), generating DDS, NCD-Protect, NCD-Risk, GDR score, and MDD-W. Anthropometric indices were obtained using standardised procedures and WHO AnthroPlus. Independent t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Approximately 60.7% met the MDD-W threshold. Baked sweets and deep-fried foods were consumed by 79.7% and 54.8%, respectively. Public school adolescents exhibited significantly higher GDR scores than private school counterparts (mean difference: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.15–1.17; p = 0.011), driven partly by higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among private school students (56.2% vs. 35.6%). DDS was positively correlated with GDR ( r = 0.279, p < 0.001). Thinness (15.9%) was nearly four times more prevalent than overweight and obesity combined (4.1%). Conclusion Female adolescents demonstrate moderate dietary diversity alongside near-ubiquitous NCD-risk food exposure, with thinness as the predominant anthropometric burden. Higher GDR scores in public than private schools suggest school food environment independently shapes diet quality.