Abstract:
This cross-sectional survey assessed dietary intake and nutritional status of 95
students, aged 15 to 16 years, from a selected national school in Monaragala
district, Sri Lanka, at an academic stress period due to ordinary-level examination.
The study's main objectives are to assess adolescents' dietary intake patterns using
a seven-day food diary and determined to determine their anthropometric measures
(BMI, Weight and Height). Participants were trained to complete a structured
seven-day food diary. Nutrient information was calculated for Sri Lankan food
based dietary guidelines in order to approximate average daily servings for the
most significant food groups. The anthropometric data showed that the
corresponding values for mean BMI, weight, and height for girls and boys were
19.66 kg/m², 44.20 kg, 150.13 cm, 19.54 kg/m², 47.05 kg, and 154.99 cm. This
expressed that both genders had healthy levels of BMI. Boys have consumed
significantly higher numbers of servings of starch and cereals compared to girls (p
≤ 0.05), with an average of 12.644 servings compared to 11.726 servings for girls.
Although serving size is lower than the recommended level for fish, eggs, and lean
meat, the serving size of boys (1.439) is significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than that of
girls (1.096). However, except for cereals and starches, the intake of the remaining
food groups like pulses and legumes, fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products,
sugars and sweets, oily nuts, oils and fats was less than the daily minimum
requirements for both genders. Notably, there was no significant correlation
between gender, anthropometric measurements, and serving size in any food
group. These findings indicate that while both boys and girls are healthy in terms
of BMI, their dietary patterns are unhealthy, with suboptimal intake of several
important food groups. Interventions and focused nutrition education are needed
to overcome these nutritional deficits and promote a better adolescent diet.
