Food choices of the young minds: a study among adolescents in urban slum area of Ludhiana

Arshdeep Singh; Sangeeta Girdhar; Vikram Kumar Gupta; Anurag Chaudhary

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262742

Authors

Arshdeep Singh Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Old Campus, Near Dandi Swami Chowk, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Sangeeta Girdhar Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Old Campus, Near Dandi Swami Chowk, Ludhiana, Punjab, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6150-6214
Vikram Kumar Gupta Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Old Campus, Near Dandi Swami Chowk, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Anurag Chaudhary Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Old Campus, Near Dandi Swami Chowk, Ludhiana, Punjab, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3972-624X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262742

Keywords:

Food preferences, Junk food, Skipping meals, School going children, Undernutrition

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of growth during which dietary habits strongly influence health and nutritional status. Unhealthy eating practices contribute to both undernutrition and overweight/obesity among adolescents. This study assessed the dietary habits and nutritional status of adolescents in an urban slum area of Ludhiana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in an urban slum area of Ludhiana. Data on dietary habits were collected using a pretested questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were recorded to assess their nutritional status.

Results: Among 202 adolescents, 51.5% were girls and the mean age was 14.99±1.09 years. Overall, 50.0% had normal BMI, 37.6% were thin and 12.4% were overweight/obese. Thinness was significantly higher among boys (48.0%) than girls (27.9%), while girls had a higher prevalence of normal BMI (61.5%) (p=0.003). More than half (52.0%) of the adolescents skipped breakfast, with significantly higher prevalence among girls (p=0.001). Junk food consumption was reported by 84.2% and carbonated drink intake by 68.3% of participants. Fruit and vegetable intake was higher among younger adolescents (p=0.043), while carbonated drink consumption increased with age (p=0.016).

Conclusions: Unhealthy dietary habits, particularly junk food consumption and breakfast skipping, were common among adolescents. These behaviors may contribute to malnutrition and future health risks. School-based nutrition education and healthy food policies are needed to encourage healthier dietary practices.

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