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Masters Thesis | Nursing | India | Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024
Awareness of Junk Food Effects and Exploring Eating Habits with a View to Develop a Dietary Manual among Adolescents in Selected Schools of Guwahati, Assam: A Descriptive Study
Padmaja Kalita | Dr. Unmona Borgohain Saikia [2] | Sushmita Mali [2]
Abstract: Background: Junk food or fast food refers to as 'food that is quick to prepare and serve'. According to food standard agency junk food is a term describing food that is perceived to be unhealthy or having poor nutritional value. It is loaded with saturated fat and high calorie, and is low in fibre and nutrients. These include processed, canned and packed food items as well as 'high - calorie' meals served at restaurants and cafeterias such as burgers, pizzas, fried chicken, potato fries, sausages, salty snacks, carbonated drinks and beverages, desserts and chocolates. Aims and objectives: To assess the awareness regarding harmful effects of junk food and its eating habits among adolescents in selected schools of Guwahati. Materials and methods: Non experimental cross - sectional research design and interview method was used in the study. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the samples. Results: The study revealed that out of 200 sample, majority 99 (49.5%) had moderately adequate awareness, 96 (48%) had adequate awareness and 5 (2.5%) had inadequate awareness regarding junk foods and its harmful effects among the adolescents. There was significant association between the level of awareness regarding junk foods and its harmful effects with age, class of study, occupational status of father and source of information regarding harmful effects of junk foods, whereas there was no significant association with other selected demographic variables such as gender, residence, educational qualification of father, educational qualification of mother, type of family, occupational status of mother and awareness about the nutrient fact of junk foods. Conclusion: The study found that the adolescents had moderate level of awareness regarding the harmful effects of junk foods therefore there should be more awareness programs related to harmful effects of junk foods among the adolescents regarding unhealthy foods through nutrition education in the schools and community and assess the impact of the same.
Keywords: awareness, adolescents, eating habits, dietary manual
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 1, January 2024,
Pages: 904 - 908