Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents?
Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, Anishta Mehdi Murad, Nida Jawed, Sumera Inam School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, PakistanCorrespondence: Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, Tel +1 92 333 2279011,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Nutrition and Dietary Supplements |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/is-fruit-and-vegetable-intake-associated-with-body-composition-among-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDS |
| _version_ | 1818354391433871360 |
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| author | Safdar NF Murad AM Jawed N Inam S |
| author_facet | Safdar NF Murad AM Jawed N Inam S |
| author_sort | Safdar NF |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, Anishta Mehdi Murad, Nida Jawed, Sumera Inam School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, PakistanCorrespondence: Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, Tel +1 92 333 2279011, Email nilofer.fatimi@duhs.edu.pkBackground: Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption during childhood is essential in promoting healthy eating habits and can reduce the risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases in adulthood.Aim: To determine the prevalence and association between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and body composition among adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2018 among 537 adolescent students in six districts of Karachi. Demographics and fruits and vegetable intake were assessed using structured questionnaires, while body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF %) were measured using a bioelectric impedance scale. Association was determined using chi-square test, and logistic regression tests were conducted to calculate the risk of low FV with body composition.Results: Out of 537 participants, inadequate intakes of FV (< 3 servings) were observed in 38.7% of adolescents. Low intake of FV was significantly associated with age > 15 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.77, [95% CI: 1.53– 2.12]), female gender (AOR: 1.53, [95% CI: 1.04– 2.25]), having moderately high BF% (A. OR: 1.70, [95% CI: 1.64– 4.53]) and excessively high BF% levels (AOR: 3.63, [95% CI: 1.04– 12.62]). Determinants such as BMI, parent’s education level and parent’s occupation status were not found to be associated with low intakes of FV.Conclusion: Low intake of fruits and vegetables may have implications on the nutritional status of adolescents. We recommend that focused measures be taken by public and private stakeholders to generate and implement policies to induce positive behavior changes towards the consumption of FV intake, leading a healthier lifestyle.Keywords: malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, body fat percentage, Pakistan |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:24:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da31ea1ae4ee406989cbdbc1d3b9df22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:24:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrition and Dietary Supplements |
| spelling | doaj.art-da31ea1ae4ee406989cbdbc1d3b9df222022-12-21T23:34:04ZengDove Medical PressNutrition and Dietary Supplements1179-14892022-03-01Volume 141973925Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents?Safdar NFMurad AMJawed NInam SNilofer Fatimi Safdar, Anishta Mehdi Murad, Nida Jawed, Sumera Inam School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, PakistanCorrespondence: Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, Tel +1 92 333 2279011, Email nilofer.fatimi@duhs.edu.pkBackground: Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption during childhood is essential in promoting healthy eating habits and can reduce the risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases in adulthood.Aim: To determine the prevalence and association between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and body composition among adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2018 among 537 adolescent students in six districts of Karachi. Demographics and fruits and vegetable intake were assessed using structured questionnaires, while body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF %) were measured using a bioelectric impedance scale. Association was determined using chi-square test, and logistic regression tests were conducted to calculate the risk of low FV with body composition.Results: Out of 537 participants, inadequate intakes of FV (< 3 servings) were observed in 38.7% of adolescents. Low intake of FV was significantly associated with age > 15 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.77, [95% CI: 1.53– 2.12]), female gender (AOR: 1.53, [95% CI: 1.04– 2.25]), having moderately high BF% (A. OR: 1.70, [95% CI: 1.64– 4.53]) and excessively high BF% levels (AOR: 3.63, [95% CI: 1.04– 12.62]). Determinants such as BMI, parent’s education level and parent’s occupation status were not found to be associated with low intakes of FV.Conclusion: Low intake of fruits and vegetables may have implications on the nutritional status of adolescents. We recommend that focused measures be taken by public and private stakeholders to generate and implement policies to induce positive behavior changes towards the consumption of FV intake, leading a healthier lifestyle.Keywords: malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, body fat percentage, Pakistanhttps://www.dovepress.com/is-fruit-and-vegetable-intake-associated-with-body-composition-among-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDSmalnutritionnon-communicable diseasesbody fat percentagepakistan |
| spellingShingle | Safdar NF Murad AM Jawed N Inam S Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? Nutrition and Dietary Supplements malnutrition non-communicable diseases body fat percentage pakistan |
| title | Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? |
| title_full | Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? |
| title_fullStr | Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? |
| title_short | Is Fruit and Vegetable Intake Associated with Body Composition Among Pakistani Adolescents? |
| title_sort | is fruit and vegetable intake associated with body composition among pakistani adolescents |
| topic | malnutrition non-communicable diseases body fat percentage pakistan |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/is-fruit-and-vegetable-intake-associated-with-body-composition-among-p-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDS |
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