Consumption of Comfortable Foods by Urban Adolescents in Different Socio-Economic Categories
Isha Chhabra
Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141001, Punjab, India.
Harpreet Kaur
Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141001, Punjab, India.
Shruti Jain *
Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141001, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Comfortable foods are chemically processed and made from heavily refined ingredients and artificial additives. These foods are manufactured and distributed in ways that encourage consumption. This study focused on adolescents since they have greater access to comfortable foods, are more free and lesser concerned for their health. Fewer studies have been conducted on adolescents but in present scenario they are more inclined towards unhealthy eating behaviors. Therefore, the present study after careful considerations was attempted to assess the consumption of comfortable foods by urban adolescents in different socio-economic categories. Two hundred subjects in the age group of 16 to 18 years were purposely selected in equal number in the ratio of 1:1 of boys and girls. Findings revealed that majority belonged to high socioeconomic status whereas 52% boys and 44% girls belonged to low socioeconomic status. Respondents from the entire income category mostly consumed comfortable foods because it was either liked by them or they found it good in taste. Consumption of all the comfortable foods was found to be significantly (p≤0.05, p≤0.01) higher in adolescents who had high income and greater access of these food products. Significant difference was observed in the mean values of consumption of comfortable foods by all the adolescents in different socioeconomic categories.
Keywords: Adolescents, comfortable foods, socio economic status, consumption.