DIETARY INTAKE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A SELECTED SCHOOL IN MONARAGALA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

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.