A Study on Assessing the Nutritional Status and Dietary Habits of Adolescents in Chengalpattu District – A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of accelerated growth, hormonal transition, and psychosocial development during which nutritional adequacy is paramount for lifelong health outcomes. In India, adolescents constitute approximately 21% of the total population, yet remain disproportionately affected by the dual burden of undernutrition and emerging overnutrition. Rapid urbanisation, changing food environments, and the proliferation of energy-dense but nutrient-poor dietary options have significantly altered adolescent dietary patterns, particularly in semi-urban and peri-urban districts of Tamil Nadu.

Objectives: To assess the nutritional status (anthropometric and biochemical) and dietary habits of adolescents aged 10–19 years attending a tertiary care hospital in Chengalpattu district and to identify associated sociodemographic and dietary determinants.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2024 at the Department of Paediatrics and Community Medicine, Government Chengalpattu Medical College and Hospital. A total of 312 adolescents (aged 10–19 years) were enrolled using systematic random sampling. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI-for-age using WHO 2007 reference), biochemical investigations (haemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum albumin), and dietary assessment using a validated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-hour dietary recall were conducted. Nutritional adequacy was evaluated against ICMR-NIN 2020 Recommended Dietary Allowances. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0; chi-square test, independent t-test, and logistic regression were applied as appropriate.

Results: The mean age was 14.2 ± 2.6 years. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1. By BMI-for-age classification, 27.2% were thin or severely thin, 57.1% were normal, and 15.7% were overweight or obese. Anaemia prevalence was 24.4% in males and 46.2% in females. Breakfast skipping was reported by 42.9% of participants. Mean daily energy intake was 1,742 ± 312 kcal, which was substantially below the ICMR-NIN RDA. Junk food consumption three or more times per week was reported by 59.6% of the cohort. Undernutrition was significantly associated with rural residence (p=0.003), lower socioeconomic status (p=0.001), and breakfast skipping (p<0.001). Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with urban residence and frequent junk food consumption (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The adolescent population in Chengalpattu district bears a dual nutritional burden characterised by persistent undernutrition among rural, low-income youth alongside rising overweight and obesity in urban adolescents. Dietary habits are suboptimal across all groups, with critical shortfalls in micronutrient intake. School-based nutritional interventions, adolescent-targeted health education, mid-day meal supplementation, and community mobilisation for healthy dietary practices are urgently needed.