Dietary nutrition of adolescents

The study conducted in Chandigarh, India, aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of adolescents in public schools. The research involved 453 participants aged 10-16. The data collection utilized a two-stage random sampling method across 12 schools and eighth-grade classes.

To assess nutritional status, the study considered dietary behaviours, anthropometric measurements, and 24-hour urinary salt levels. Dietary patterns were recorded through two 24-hour dietary recalls, highlighting high sugar and salt intake (55% and 32%, respectively) alongside low fruit (90%) and vegetable (83%) consumption. The adolescents exhibited deficiencies in various nutrients like energy, fats, fiber, iron, zinc, iodine, riboflavin, and vitamins B-6 and B-12.

Anthropometric measurements revealed disparities between genders, with a higher thinness prevalence among boys (10%) and increased abdominal obesity in girls (36%). Additionally, a significant proportion of boys faced severe acute malnutrition (23%). Notably, almost all adolescents demonstrated high urinary excretory salt levels.

The findings highlighted several dietary risk factors, including excessive salt and sugar intake coupled with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Moreover, the adolescents faced deficiencies in multiple nutrients, experiencing both thinness and obesity. The study recommends regular nutritional assessments in schools to tackle this nutritional dilemma and suggests implementing health-promoting interventions to foster healthy dietary habits among adolescents.