Nutritional status among adolescent girls is an important indicator of health, growth, and development. Nutritional knowledge and body image perception are considered factors associated with nutritional status; however, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between nutritional knowledge and body image perception with the nutritional status of adolescent girls at SMA Negeri 5 Kendari. This study employed a quantitative analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The study population consisted of 517 female students in grades X and XI, with a sample of 249 respondents selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data on nutritional knowledge were collected using a structured questionnaire, body image perception was assessed using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and nutritional status was determined based on Body Mass Index-for-Age (BMI-for-Age). The Chi-square test indicated no significant relationship between nutritional knowledge and nutritional status (p = 0.116) or between body image perception and nutritional status (p = 0.062). It can be concluded that nutritional knowledge and body image perception were not significantly associated with the nutritional status of adolescent girls at SMA Negeri 5 Kendari. Therefore, efforts to improve adolescents' nutritional status should also consider other contributing factors, such as dietary habits, physical activity, socioeconomic conditions, and family support.
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