Exercise and eating habits among urban adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Kolkata, India

Abstract

BackgroundUnhealthy eating and lack of exercise during adolescence culminated into earlier onset and increasing burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide. Among urban Indian adolescents, prevalence of these risk factors of CVD seemed to be high, but data regarding their pattern and predictors was limited. To address this dearth of information, a survey was conducted among urban adolescent school-students in Kolkata, a highly populated metro city in eastern India.MethodsDuring January–June, 2014, 1755 students of 9th-grade were recruited through cluster (schools) random sampling. Informed consents from parents and assents from adolescents were collected. Information on socio-demographics, CVD-related knowledge and perception along with eating and exercise patterns were collected with an internally validated structured questionnaire. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed in SAS-9.3.2.ResultsAmong 1652 participants (response rate = 94.1%), about 44% had poor overall knowledge about CVD, 24% perceived themselves as overweight and 60% considered their general health as good. Only 18% perceived their future CVD-risk and 29% were engaged in regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise. While 55% skipped meals regularly, 90% frequently consumed street-foods and 54% demonstrated overall poor eating habits.Males were more likely to engage in moderate-to-vigorous exercise [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.40(95% confidence interval = 2.55–4.54)] while students of higher SES were less likely [AOR = 0.59(0.37–0.94)]. Males and those having good CVD-related knowledge were more likely to exercise at least 1 h/day [AOR = 7.77(4.61–13.07) and 2.90(1.46–5.78) respectively].Those who perceived their future CVD-risk, skipped meals more [2.04(1.28–3.25)] while Males skipped them less [AOR = 0.62(0.42–0.93)]. Subjects from middle class ate street-foods less frequently [AOR = 0.45(0.24–0.85)]. Relatively older students and those belonging to higher SES were less likely to demonstrate good eating habits [AOR = 0.70(0.56–0.89) and 0.23(0.11–0.47) respectively]. A large knowledge-practice gap was evident as students with good CVD-related knowledge were less likely to have good eating habits [AOR = 0.55(0.32–0.94)].ConclusionsCVD-related knowledge as well as eating and exercise habits were quite poor among adolescent school-students of Kolkata. Additionally, there was a large knowledge-practice gap. Multi-component educational interventions targeting behavioral betterment seemed necessary for these adolescents to improve their CVD-related knowledge, along with appropriate translation of knowledge into exercise and eating practices to minimize future risk of CVDs.

Association of screen time with physical activity and BMI in middle school children at Tamil Nadu, India

“…In a study among urban adolescents in Kolkata, India, only 29% of the adolescents were engaged in regular moderate-tovigorous exercise. 8 Only 27.7% were involved in daily exercise and 37.1% in daily games in a study among school students in kerala (2010). 9 Statistically 43.8% of the children were physically active for at least 1 hour per day on all 7 days of the previous week in a study among 485 school children in New Delhi by George GM et al 10 The prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity among children in the age group of 11 to 13 years were 10.8 %, 25.2% and 6.5%.…”

Association of nutritional status with dietary and behavioural patterns among adolescents

“…9 In a study from Kolkata, India, as high as 53% reported missing meals and 90% reported daily consumption of street food. 11 In the present study 2% disclosed that they never took breakfast and 6% consumed junk food daily. Breakfast, being brain's food, it seems prudent to provide breakfast along with mid-day meals in schools.…”

“…A study from Kolkata, India had reported moderate to vigorous exercise in 29% only and Cardiovascular diseases related knowledge among school children was found to be low. 11 This is an eye opener to address both knowledge and practice gap for prevention of lifestyle related diseases.…”

Hábitos alimentares e fatores de risco para hipertensão arterial sistêmica em escolares

“…Corroborando os dados encontrados nesta pesquisa, uma recente revisão realizada no Brasil sobre hábitos alimentares em escolares evidenciou um alto consumo de refrigerantes e doces nessa população e baixo consumo de frutas e verduras 36 . A relação entre dietas não saudáveis, ricas em açúcares, e risco de doenças cardiovasculares é consistentemente evidenciada na literatura 37 , apontando para necessidade urgente de intervenções educacionais que visem o melhoramento comportamental entre os adolescentes.…”