Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Adolescent girls deal with several major nutritional issues that impair their growth and development and their ability to support themselves as adults. The COVID-19 pandemic may have brought out changes in the lifestyle behaviour of adolescent girls, such as their food habits. Given this effect, a cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the dietary intake of adolescent girls aged 13 to 18 years in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Percent adequacy of dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour dietary recall method and the average daily dietary intake was compared to the RDA (2020) and RDI (2010). The results of the study found that almost all the girls consumed very less amount of milk and its products, pulses, and GLV’s along with cereals. However, there was adequate consumption of fruits, other vegetables, sugar, fats, and oils among both age groups. Intake of roots and tubers was adequate for girls aged 13 to 18 years but not for 16 to 18 aged girls. The average per adequacy nutrient intake of age group 13-15 and 16-18 years for energy, iron, calcium, vitamin B1, B2 , B3 , and zinc was lower compared to RDA. Intake of CHO was found to be higher, whereas the intake of vitamin C, protein, fat, and folate was found to be adequate in the diet of both age groups. The findings of the study revealed that there was inadequate dietary intake among adolescent girls during the COVID19 period, therefore it is important to promote the proper type of nutrition, and health education to avoid the development of unhealthy eating habits and thereby prevent the subsequent risk of degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular pathologies, etc.