Food Consumption Pattern and Nutritional Status of Urban and Rural Adolescent Boys
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Date
2011
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
A sample of 200 adolescent boys (100 urban and 100 rural) in the age group of 16-18 years was selected from two schools of Ludhiana namely Government Model Senior Secondry School PAU Ludhiana in urban area and Shaheed colonel Harcharan Singh Sekho Yadgiri Government Senior Secondry School Dakha, Ludhiana in rural area. The data on general profile, socio-economic status, physical activity pattern and food consumption pattern (general and fast food) were collected. Dietary intake and anthropometric measurements were also assessed using standard methods. An educational package was developed both in English and Punjabi consisting of thirteen chapters on nutritional and health guidelines for adolescents. Nutrition education was imparted for three months. Impact of nutrition intervention was assessed by comparing the knowledge scores and the mean frequency of general and fast food consumption by the subjects before and after the intervention. The results revealed that rural adolescent boys were physically more active with longer duration of play, walk and exercise than urban subjects. The frequency of general food consumption was higher among rural subjects while frequency of fast food consumption was higher among urban boys. The per cent adequacy of food intake presented a low intake of cereals, pulses, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, milk and milk products, meat and chicken and fruits whereas a high intake of fats among both the groups. The data on per cent adequacy of nutrient intake revealed that intake of protein, vitamins and minerals was low. The energy intake was adequate while intake of fat was higher among both the groups. The classification of Body Mass Index showed that a higher percentage of rural adolescent boys were underweight (27 vs 14%) while more of urban adolescents as obese (38 vs 32%). A significant impact of nutrition intervention both on knowledge scores and mean frequency of general as well as fast food consumption was observed among urban and rural adolescent boys, but the impact was higher among urban subjects.
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Keywords
Rural Adolescent Boys, Nutritional Status, dietary intake