Dietary Habits, Perceptions and Barriers Among Government and Private College Intermediate Students in Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To determine differences in eating practices, perceptions, and perceived barriers among intermediate students of government and private sectors in Karachi. Study design and setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six intermediate colleges of Karachi from October to December 2018. Methodology: Total N=390 students aged 16-24 years were selected via non-probability convenience sampling. The study team developed a questionnaire to assess the dietary habits and barriers among the students. Results: Mean BMI of government college students was 20.41 ± 4.15 kg/m2 while that of private college students was 22.25 ± 5.43 kg/m2. The proportion of underweight participants was higher (36.8%) in government college students, and overweight students being higher in private (23.8%). Similar responses were recorded for daily meals and weekly fastfood and fruit consumption. Skipping meals was found out to be a common practice among students. Breakfast was most commonly skipped meal among both groups (23.9% & 39.2%, respectively). Watching television during meals was common in both groups (58.7% & 67.7% respectively). The majority of the students from both groups did not familiar with the term body mass index BMI (84.6% & 82.5%, respectively). Smoking was more common among the private sector, 16.9%, compared to 3.5 % of the government sector. Fruit juice was considered a healthier option (58.7% & 52.9%, respectively). Similarly, white bread against bran bread was perceived healthier by the majority in both groups (70.1% & 59.3%, respectively). Carbohydrate was reported as a major nutrient in the diet by (51.7% & 57.1% respectively). Factors like educational stress, time, will-power to maintain the diet, availability of junk food, and climate were some of the significant influencers of diet/lifestyle recorded. Conclusion: Students from both groups shared similar eating and lifestyle practices irrespective of their educational institutes’ status.