Abstract:
The dietary behaviour of young adults in Sri Lanka is a key determinant of long-term
health outcomes in the country. This study aimed to evaluate the daily dietary fibre
(DF) intake and balanced meal consumption patterns among young adults employed
in a Sri Lankan export processing zone, Gampaha. A cross-sectional quantitative
study was conducted among 327 participants using a validated, interviewer
administered questionnaire, including 128 males and 199 females. Data were
analysed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test to compare means across
demographic categories using IBM SPSS Statistics 29 software. The daily mean DF
intake was 19.8 g (Male: 22.3 g; Female: 18.2 g; p < 0.05), which is lower than the
recommended daily intake. The lowest DF intake was observed in the 18-23 age
group (18.4 g), and intake significantly increased with age (p < 0.05). DF intake
differed significantly across educational levels (p < 0.05), with graduates reporting
the highest intake (21.6 g). Place of residence also influenced intake; those who were
living at home had higher DF intake than those living in boarding places. Moreover,
the consumption of balanced meals was critically poor with only 2% of subjects
reporting a balanced diet across all main meals. The highest proportion of balanced
meals was reported at lunch (55%), while none of the participants reported consuming
a balanced breakfast. The findings of this study highlighted the necessity of educating
the industrial workforce on their diet and health. Further, implementing policies and
providing workplace facilities to promote healthier dietary practices among young
adults should be prioritised and strengthened.
