| Popis: |
Introduction: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool that indicates whether a person is underweight, healthy weight or obesity. Fast foods are commercial, ready-to-eat meals with high fat, little fiber, and minimal vitamins or calcium. This study intended to identify baseline BMI and fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages intake and expenditure on those foods among school children in an urban government school. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 463 students, studying in grade 8-12 of Tri-Padma Vidyashram Secondary School during 21/02/2021 – 12/04/2021. Non probability convenience sampling and self developed structured questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 16 was used for analysis. BMI, frequency and amount of fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages consumption and their monthly expenditure on those foods were measured using descriptive statistics. Results: The study shows that 382(82.5%) had normal BMI, 38(8.2%) overweight, 10(2.2%) obese, 28(6.0%) were in moderate malnutrition and 5(1.1%) were in severe malnutrition; therefore, the baseline BMI is ≥-2 to ≤ + 1 SD. 458(98.92%) respondents consume fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage. Instant noodles (chowmein and packaged chow-chow) are the highly consumed fast foods 412(89.95%), followed by panipuri 394(86.02%) and samosa 386(84.27%). 263(57.42%) students/participants frequently consume fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage. The mean expenditure on fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage (Mean ± SD) is Rs.2676.82 ± 1363.43. Conclusion: Majority of the respondents have normal BMI. More than half respondents frequently consume fast foods, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage and expense much money though they study in government school. Key words: Body Mass Index (BMI), Fast foods, Non-alcoholic beverages, School children, Snacks. |
