Meal Pattern of Urban Adolescents of Different Socio-economic Status Groups in Delhi

Abstract

Introduction and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on urban adolescents (n = 545, 11–18 years, 62.0% girls) residing in Delhi. Information pertaining to their detailed meal pattern was collected. Results: Approximately 75% adolescents from urban slums (US), low income group (LIG), and middle income group (MIG) were non-vegetarian. Highest percentage of vegetarians (27.4%) and ovo-vegetarians (19.9%) belonged to high income group (HIG). Adolescents from HIG reported the highest mean number of meals (weekdays - 5.16 ± 0.887 and weekends - 4.85 ± 1.026) and adolescents from LIG reported the lowest mean number of meals (weekdays - 4.31 ± 0.777 and weekends - 4.26 ± 0.846). Dinner was the main meal consumed by ≥99% adolescents from all four SES both on weekdays and weekends. Highest proportions of adolescents from LIG were consuming other main meals such as breakfast (97.8%) and lunch (97.0%) on weekdays and weekends. Adolescents from HIG reported the lowest daily breakfast consumption (68.5%) in comparison to other groups. Fixed times for main meals were reported by 62.6% and 54.5% adolescents on weekdays and weekends, respectively. Majority of adolescents having fixed times for main meals on weekdays and weekends belonged to HIG (74.0%) and MIG (61.5%), respectively. Majority of adolescents commonly skipping main meals on weekdays and weekends belonged to MIG (53.1%) and US (37.3%), respectively. It is found that the adolescents from LIG, who reported consuming the lowest mean total number of meals on weekends, also reported the lowest percentage of skipping main meals on weekends (21.5%).