Study of Selected Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adolescents in A Rural Area of Karnataka

Abstract

Background and Aim Non-communicable diseases NCD in recent times have attained a magnitude of epidemic proportions with an increasing number of adolescents being reported as obese. Noncommunicable diseases can cause mortality due to excessive smoking absence of physical activity habituation to alcohol and diet which is unhealthy. The earlier knowledge of the occurrence of these diseases among well-to-do urban groups is now changed with the increasing evidence of the occurrence of these non-communicable diseases in people living in rural areas. Hence this study aims at determining the prevalence of certain selected non-communicable risk factors which are lifestyle related such as undernutrition and overnutrition unhealthy eating habits consumption of alcohol and tobacco use and inadequate physical activity among adolescents in the rural area of Karnataka.Methods This community-based cross-sectional study collected information from 516 adolescents aged 10-19 years in the school or house-to-house survey. Anthropometric measurements were done. Validated questionnaires i.e. nutrition questionnaire for adolescents Source Bright Future nutrition and a Global school-based student health survey were used to collect the data. Results Among the 516 adolescents 339 66 were in schooling and 175 33.6 were attending college. Physical inactivity among 139 27 was observed which is alarming in rural areas. About 139 29.1 adolescents were underweight which is also a risk factor for some non-communicable diseases. The proportion of underweight adolescents consuming alcohol and not consuming adequate vegetablesfruits is significant.Conclusion The risk factors identified will help policymakers develop health promotion policies and programs directed toward adolescents to address the growing tide of non-communicable diseases.nbsp