http://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0086- Lakhwinder Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Deepak Mala, Deepika Gohlan
Abstract : Trends in adolescent’s eating pattern shows a great concern with regard to the prevalence of obesity. A co relational study was conducted with objective of assessing the association between eating pattern and Body Mass Index among adolescents in 2007. After checking the validity and reliability of research tool i.e., interview schedule study was conducted in Guru Nanak Public Senior Secondary School Dhahan Kaleran. Findings revealed that 57% adolescent had normal BMI. A positive association between eating pattern and BMI was found(X2=5.9, df= 2, p=O.01)
Key words :
Adolescents, BMI, Eating pattern.
Correspondence at : Manjula Thakur
National Institute of Nursing Education, PGlMER,Chandigarh
Introduction
The last two decades have witnessed a tremendous changes in the eating pattern of Indian population. There has been revolution in adolescent’s life style and eating pattern which can be largely attributed to changes in family and social environment. The changes in eating pattern contribute to the changes in normal health.1 Trends in adolescent’s eating pattern shows a great concern with regard to prevalence of adolescent’s obesity and increasing recognition of the contribution of diet to long term health.2
Adolescence is the period between 12-19 years, time of almost constant changes of body, mind and social relationships. During this period, when independence is establish- ed, dietary and activity pattern may be adopted that are followed for many years.3 Adolescents are the most impor tant and vulnerable segment of population which has been largely ignored and badly neglected in our developmental, educational and research programmes.2,4,5.
Survey done by French et al also revealed that eating away from home is becoming more common and fast food restaurants use is growing more rapidly.6 Fast food like. pizza, noodles, burgers are rapidly replacing our traditional menu not only in restaurants and eating points but in households too. A number of factors contributing to this may be the increased number of working mothers, increased dual income households, nuclear small families, high socioeconomic status, availability of fast food outlets and increased propaganda of food service chains. Growing percentage of working mothers affects the selection of food. Now a days, our youth is attracting more towards fast food because of their easy availability. The graph of fast food consumption is at peak which affects their health to great extent.1 The consumption of fast food has increased rapidly among adolescents from all socioeconomic and racial/ ethnic groups in local communities, public school and hospitals.7 This increase in fast food consumption parallels the escalating obesity epidemic.8 Obesity is defind as a generalized and excessive accumulation of fat in subcutaneous tissue. It is equally common among adolescents especially in high socio economic group because of dietary habits i.e. due to consumption of food rich in starch and fat. Percentage of overweight adolescents increased to 16% in 2002 comparing to the 2% in 1976.9.
Chtamani Chauhan found a significant relationship in the physical growth (height and weight) and eating pattern2. Body mass index (BMI) is an important anthropometric index of weight and height, used as screening tool to detect possible weight problems for adolescents. BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height squared and expressed as BMI= Weiaht (kg)10,11.12.13 Height (m2)
Study conducted by Dr Paul found that 80% adolescents are overweight in their scenario. BMI correlates to direct measure of body fat. 11 BMI was increased in those who spent more time with television/video games, taking fast food (pizza, cold drinks etc). Now a days, adolescents love net surfing, spend hours sitting steadily. They love to eat foods readily available to them such as snacks, chips, Kurkure, burgers, cold drinks, pizza etc. Similarly Catherine stated that physical activity among adolescents has declined where as time spent in watching television, videos, playing computer games has increased. In a study he found that adolescents who spent more time in viewing television during one year had larger increase in BMI. 3 More over BMI of adolescents of nation is a highly reliable index of the health of the population.2
As the future strength of nation depends upon the adolescents. So it is very important to know how well they are being joint family. Fifty nine adolescents family income was below Rs 10000/month.
Table – 1: Profile of Subjects N= 120
cared and reared.2 Till date no research study was conducted in Punjab to find association between eating pattern and BMI. Interest among researchers was aroused to conduct such study. Hence this study was conducted to find the association between eating pattern and BMI.
Materials and Methods
This co relational study was conducted on adolescent students of Guru Nanak Public, Senior Secondary School, Dhahan Kaleran in 2007. Descriptive co relational research design was adopted. Roy’s adaptation model was followed for conceptual framework. Through systematic random sampling technique, 120 subjects constitute the sample. Ethical considerations were followed. Following the content validity and reliability, interview schedule was used for collecting the data. BMI was calculated using anthropometric measurements.
Results
Table reveals that mean age of subjects were 14.1±12.8 years ranging from 13-19 years. Fifty five adolescents (46%) were of 14- 16 years old. Equal percentage was male and females. Maximum students i.e., hundred (83%) were residing in rural area. sixty two (52%) were non- vegetarian. One hundred twelve (83%) adolescent’s fathers were doing service as well as agriculturist. Maximum adolescent’s mothers were housewives. Seventy eight adolescents were belonging to
Variables n(%)
| Age(years)* | |
| 12-14 | 29.0(24) |
| 14-16 | 55.0(46) |
| 16-18 | 27.0(23) |
| 18-20 | 09.0(07) |
| Gender |
Male 60.0(50)
Female 60.0(50)
Habitat
Rural 100(83)
Urban 20( 17)
Food habits
Non-vegetarian 62.0(52)
Vegetarian 58.0(48)
Father’s occupation
Farmer 52.0(43)
Service 53.0(44)
Immigrant 15.0(13)
Mother’s occupation
Service 24.0(20)
Housewife 96.0(80)
Type of family
Joint 78.0(65)
Nuclear 42.0(35)
Family income
<10000 78.0(65)
>10000 42.0(35)
*Mean age=14.1±12.8yrs Range=13-19 yrs
Table – 2 reveals that one third of subjects (62%) consumed three meals perday, Regarding consumption of chapattis/day, forty eight (40%) adolescents consumed 4-6 chapattis. Regarding oil consumed for cooking, fifty six (47%) consumed refined oil and fifty nine consumed unrefined ghee. Forty eight (40%) adolescents consumed biscuit in between the meals. Half of the subjects consumed snacks once in between the meals and also after lunch. Sixty seven (56%) adolescents consumed such snacks sometimes while watching Television and 42% subjects consumed fruit juice.
Table – 2: Distribution of subjects as per consuming eatables N=120
Variables n(%)
Consumption of meal/day
Two 36.0(30)
Three 74.0(62)
Four 07.0(06)
More than four 02.0(02)
Consumption of chapatties/day
1-3 34.0(28.5)
4-6 48.0(40.0)
7-9 22.0(18.5)
>9 16.0(13.0)
Oil used for cooking meal
| Desi ghee | 43.0(36) |
| Dalda | 16.0(13) |
| Refined | 56.0(47) |
| Any other | 05.0(04) |
Items consumed in between meal
Biscuits 48.0(40)
Chocolates 17.0(14)
Variables n(%)
Samosa 16.0(13)
Bread toast 13.0(11)
Burger/Noodles 26.0(22)
Quantity of Consumption of Above Mentioned
Eatables
One 61.0(51)
Two 36.0(30)
Three 12.0(10)
Four 11.0 (09)
Time of snacking
| After breakfast | 21.0(17.5) |
| After lunch | 56.0(47.0) |
| After dinner | 09.0(07.5) |
| Never | 34.0(28.0) |
Snacks consumed while watching TV
Always 10.0(08)
Sometimes 67.0(56)
Often 07.0(06)
Rarelv 36.0(30)
Drinks consumed
Tea 46.0(38.5)
Coffee 06.0(05.0)
Fruit juice 51.0(42.5)
Cold drinks 17.0(14.0)
Figure 1 reveals that only forty eight subjects replaced their meal where as seventy two did not replace it. Among adolescents who replaced their meal, thirty five subjects replaced meals once/day where as eight subjects replaced once a week.
Figure – 1 : Distribution of subjects as per meal replacement N = 48
Figure 2 depicts that 66% subjects were dinning out occasionally, 14% were dinning out once a month and only 6% were dinning out twice a month.
Figure – 2 : Distribution of subjects as per dinning out
Table 3 depicts that for ty eight adolescents consumed meal thrice a day and had normal BMI whereas twenty seven adolescents consumed meal thrice a day, but had abnormal BMI, positive association between the eating pattern (consumption of meal thrice /day) and BMI found at statistically significant level.( X2 5.9,df=2,p=0.1)
Table – 3 : Association between consumption of meal and BMI
| n=68 | n=52 | ||
| Two | 15 | 14 | 5.9 |
| Three | 48 | 27 | p=0.1 |
| four | 05 | 11 | df=2 |
Consumption of meal Normal BMI Abnormal BMI X2
Discussion
Modernization has witnessed tremendous changes in the eating pattern of Indian population. Resolution in adolescents life style and eating pattern, contributes the change in normal health. Replacement of traditional menu with fast food consumption in restaurants and eating points is important factor contributed to adolescent’s obesity. Growing percentage of working mothers’ also affects the selection of food. Having abnormal eating pattern contributes to increase body mass.
The consumption of fast food has increased rapidly since 1970 among adolescents from all socio economic/ethnic groups. An estimated 75% adolescents eat fast food once or more time per week.7 Present study also revealed that 18% adolescents replace their meals once or more times per week.
Study conducted by Maria Adams(2002) shows that increased fast food consumption among adolescents contribute to increased overweight and obesity.9 An estimated 16% of adolescents were overweight, up from 6% in 1976.Present study also inferred similar results i.e.10% adolescents had overweight, 57% had normal BMI. In present study maximum subjects had normal BMI.
Eating pattern of adolescents having working mothers may affect because of the negligence from parents as well more influence of peer group. Finding of present study revealed that 33 adolescents were malnourished, having working mothers. Study conducted by Chaudary et al based on nutritional status of adolescents of working mother’s also revealed that malnutrition was more prevalent among adolescents of working mothers than the adolescents of non working mothers.10
Present study revealed a positive association between eating meal and the BMI at statistically significant level ((X2=5.9, df=2, p=0.01). Because of scarcity of research studies, comparison was not carried out. This study is concluded that association between eating pattern and BMI exists. For generalization, study can be conducted on larger scale.
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