Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: October | Volume: 11 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 126-132
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20211016
Fast Foods, Snacks and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Intake among School Children and Baseline Body Mass Index in an Urban Government School, Nepal
Vivechana Shakya1, Susan Maharjan2
1,2Assistant Professor, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery (Lalitpur Nursing Campus), Lalitpur, Nepal
Corresponding Author: Vivechana Shakya
ABSTRACT
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.