Breakfast Behaviour and its Impact on Nutritional Status of Adolescents of Rural and Urban Dharwad Taluk
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Date
2012
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Publisher
UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A study was carried out among 1000 adolescents (both gender) of 13 to 16
years from rural and urban areas of Dharwad taluk to assess the breakfast behaviour
and its impact on nutritional status. Majority of rural (94.20%) and urban (88.60%)
adolescents consumed breakfast. Lower per cent of boys (6.34%) skipped breakfast
compared to girls (11.38%). Large proportion of adolescents (78.43%) consumed
dosa and upma (71.68%). Height of rural and urban boys ranged from 142.92 to
152.25cm and 148.47 to 159.44cm respectively and weight from 34.08 to 40.52kg and
34.63 to 43.91kg respectively at 13 to 16 years. The height and weight of rural girls
ranged from 145.09cm and 35.42kg to 149.21cm and 38.10 kg respectively, while that
of urban girls varied from 147.52cm and 37.74kg to 151.14cm and 41.67kg
respectively at 13 to 16 years. Half of the rural and 44 per cent of urban adolescents
were severely underweight. As per WHR, around 38 per cent of girls and 4.80 per
cent of the boys were at risk. The intake of all the nutrients, except vitamin C was
below recommendation, much lower among rural adolescents than urban counterparts.
The mean haemoglobin level of girls and boys was 9.90 and 10.45g/dl
respectively. Breakfast consumers were significantly taller (152.09cm) and lighter
(37.47kg) than skippers (151.90cm and 40.97kg respectively). Intake of fats and oils
was lower (24.46g/d) and fruits was higher (34.73g/d) among consumers than
skippers (27.69 and 33.84g/d respectively). Expect fat, the intake of all nutrients was
higher among breakfast consumers compared to skippers. Mean haemoglobin level of
breakfast consumers was significantly higher (10.54g/dl) compared to skippers
(8.98g/dl). Higher proportion of breakfast skippers were suffering from either
moderate (50% of girls and 60% boys) or severe anaemia (37.50% of girls and 40% of
boys) than the skippers.