Dietary Pattern of Schoolgoing Adolescents in Urban Baroda, India

Authors

  • PV Kotecha Country Representative, Academy for Educational Development, A2Z, The USAID Micronutrient Project India, New Delhi 110 022
  • Sangita V Patel Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara
  • RK Baxi Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara
  • VS Mazumdar Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara
  • Misra Shobha Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara
  • KG Mehta Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Gotri, Vadodara
  • Diwanji Mansi Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara
  • Modi Ekta Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v31i4.20047

Keywords:

Adolescents, Dietary pattern, Nutrition, Urban, India

Abstract

Diet plays a very important role in growth and development of adolescents, during which the development of healthy eating habits is of supreme importance. There is a dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition in this age-group. The study assessed the food habits, food preferences, and dietary pattern of schoolgoing urban adolescents in Baroda, India. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this study. A quantitative survey was carried out using a pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaire among 1,440 students from class 6 to 12 in 7 English medium and 23 Gujarati medium schools. Focus group discussions, 5 each with adolescent boys and girls, were held, along with 5 focus group discussions with teachers of Gujarati and English medium schools. Nearly 80% of adolescents had consumed regular food, like dal, rice, chapati, and vegetables, including green leafy vegetables. Nearly 50% of them had consumed chocolates, and about one-third consumed fast foods. Nearly 60% of adolescents had their breakfast daily while the remaining missed taking breakfast daily. Nearly one-third of adolescents were missing a meal once or twice a week. A large majority had consumed regular foods. However, more than half of them had consumed chocolates, soft drinks, and over one-third had taken fast foods.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v31i4.20047

J HEALTH POPUL NUTR 2013 Dec; 31(4): 490-496

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Published

2014-08-17

How to Cite

Kotecha, P., Patel, S. V., Baxi, R., Mazumdar, V., Shobha, M., Mehta, K., Mansi, D., & Ekta, M. (2014). Dietary Pattern of Schoolgoing Adolescents in Urban Baroda, India. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 31(4), 490–496. https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v31i4.20047

Issue

Section

Review Article