Changing food pattern in adolescents and impact on health

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle changes has compelled us so much that one has very little time to really think what we are eating. 'Eat healthy and live healthy', one of the essential requirement for long life is now being overlooked as today we have adopted to a system of consumption of food which has many side effects – like Junk food, the profound rise in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease in the developing countries can be attributed to consumption often unhealthy food. Compared to the severity of problem the Indian literature is very scantly. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the changing food pattern in adolescents and its impact on health. Materials and Methods: A group of 450 adolescents from 10 to 19 years was identified, details food consumption and habits were obtained, Body mass index was calculated and haemoglobin estimation was performed. Results: Study result shows that 23.5% adolescents consumed junk food twice or more per week and from which middle aged adolescent was in higher percentage. The prevalence of risk of overweight and over weight (obese) was highest 50% in High socioeconomic adolescents. The habit of eating junk food more than two time / weak resulted in to risk of overweight and obesity were 27.4% and 1.9%. Adolescent also suffered from anaemia and prevalence in female was 80% and in male 73.5%. The anaemic had strong relationship with junk food consumption by adolescent, having 2 times per week junk food 81.5% suffered from anaemia. Similarly the adolescent, who skipped breakfast> two times /weak 96.6% suffered from anaemia. Conclusion: By reduction in junk food and un healthy food eating we may decrease the incidence of obesity in turn which will lead to minimize the risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery diseases, regular intake of nutritive and healthy food in breakfast, the serious condition like anaemia can be countered and that’s key to healthy life