Diet quality and snack preferences of Turkish adolescents in private and public schools

Abstract

IntroductionSocioeconomic level is one of the important factors determining diet quality. Snack preferences are affected by socioeconomic level. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of socioeconomic levels on diet quality and snack preferences among adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds.MethodsThe study involved 118 adolescents aged between 10-18 years residing in Istanbul. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers was used to obtain information on the adolescents’ dietary habits, consumption of main meals and snacks, habits, and food consumption records. The participants’ food consumption was assessed using the retrospective 24-hour recall method, and diet quality was evaluated using the calculated nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR).ResultsThe mean age of the adolescents was 16.42±0.89 years. The number of snacks consumed in private schools was found to be higher than in public schools (p < 0.05). The NAR score for vitamin C consumption was significantly higher in private schools compared to public schools (p < 0.05). Although the MAR scores of adolescents in private schools were higher than those in public schools, this difference was not statistically significant. The majority of adolescents in private schools regularly consumed fresh fruit (67.2%), milk (60.3%), yogurt (60.3%), and nuts (56.9%) as snacks. In contrast, 45% of adolescents in public schools regularly consumed pastries (p < 0.05).DiscussionIt was observed that adolescents studying in public schools had a lower tendency to prefer healthy foods for snacks compared to those in private schools. Socioeconomic level was identified as an important factor influencing eating habits during adolescence. Considering that the level of income is significantly different between the adolescents studying at private and public schools, the higher consumption of snacks by the adolescents studying at private school may be associated with higher income.

Famine exposure in early life increases risk of cataracts in elderly stage

“…We designate adults who experienced famine as the reference group and categorize subjects based on their age during the famine as follows: adulthood group (born between 1935 and 1940, aged 21–26 years old), school age famine exposure group (born between 1949 and 1956, exposed between 5 and 12 years old), and teenage famine exposure group (born between 1941 and 1948, exposed between 13 and 20 years old) ( 19 , 20 ). Adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood with accelerated growth and development ( 21 , 22 ). Considering these differences in the developmental period characteristics of sexuality, participants were further categorized as follows: (1) among male participants: unexposed group (born between 1935 and 1940, aged 21–26 years old), childhood famine exposure group (born between 1951 and 1956, exposed between 5 and 10 years old), and adolescence famine exposure group (born between 1941 and 1950, exposed between 11 and 20 years old); (2) among female participants: unexposed group (born between 1935 and 1942, aged 19–26 years old), childhood famine exposure group (born between 1953 and 1956, exposed between 5 and 8 years old), and adolescence famine exposure group (born between 1943 and 1952, exposed between 9 and 18 years old) ( 23 , 24 ).…”