Investigating the Efficacy of Nutritional Status, Dietary Acumen, and Sugary Beverage Consumption Patterns in Secondary School Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive consumption of sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity and negatively affects nutritional health because they contain additional sugars and empty calories. Making well-informed decisions that prioritize nutrient-dense options enables people to reduce health risks and improve their general nutritional state. Objectives: The objectives of this study to is to assess the relationship between nutritional status, dietary knowledge and sugary beverage consumption habits among secondary school children in Lahore. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 384 secondary school children studying in public and private schools of Lahore, Pakistan and data was collected through a combination of 2 validated questionnaires, composed of 4 parts (personal information, frequency of sugary beverages consumed, sugary beverage consumption pattern and & dietary knowledge). For BMI calculation, height and weight were measured. Data analysis was done through SPSS version 23. Results: The study reveals that 51.8% of the students in Pakistani secondary schools in Lahore fell within the normal BMI limit. The remainder, however, were malnourished; 13% of the adolescents were underweight, 21.6% were overweight, and 13.5% were obese. Furthermore, it was found that there was no significant relationship between dietary knowledge, use of sugary beverages, and nutritional status. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is evident that the consumption of sugary sweet beverages among the secondary school children of Lahore, Pakistan is significantly higher. Also, the burden of malnutrition and the body mass index is significantly high among these adolescents, associated with SSB consumption. However, BMI is no significantly related to dietary knowledge.