Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340 Volume 1, Number 1 (2014), pp. 1 - 8
© Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
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Increasing Predilection for Fast Food in Overweight Adolescent Boys of District Kurukshetra

Tarvinderjeet Kaur , Sonali Goel, Madhu Gupta
1 Head, Department of Home Science, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
2 Lecturer, Department of Home Science, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
3 Head, Department of Home Science, Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa, Haryana, India
Email: tarvinder_khushi@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Obesity in adolescents is gradually becoming a major public health problem in many developing countries, including India. The most important consequence of being obese as an adolescent is its persistence into adulthood with all its health risks. Change in dietary habit of consuming more high energy junk / fast food and shifting to sedentary lifestyle is likely to be one of the important precursors of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted on overweight adolescent boys aged 17-18 years selected purposively from two different schools in district Kurukshetra, Haryana state. Maximum (47.16%) subjects had monthly family income in the range of Rs. 50,000-75,000. More than two-third (64.15%) adolescent boys skipped at least one meal a day and the most frequently missed meal was breakfast (33.01%). The most common (69.11%) effect of skipping meal among adolescent boys was consumption of junk/fast food. Potato chips, carbonated drinks, ice-creams, maggie noodles and burgers respectively, were the most (100%, 94.33%, 92.45%, 91.50%, 90.56%) favored fast food items. The data further revealed highly significant (P<0.05) and positive correlation between fried foods vs weight and BMI (r = 0.538, r = 0.352), respectively. Chinese foods were also significant (P<0.05) and positively correlated to weight and BMI (r = 0.360, r =0.245) respectively. Significant (P<0.05) and positive correlation was also observed between sweet dishes vs weight and BMI (r = 0.315, r = 0.221) respectively. The results of the present study suggested that it is necessary to emphasize the importance of regular physical activity and healthy eating habits among adolescents in school based health programs and educate them about adverse effects of fast food so as to prevent future obesity related problems.

Keywords: Adolescent Boys, Fast Food, Overweight.