Comparison of Diet Quality of Low and Middle Income Adolescents in Delhi, India Jain Arushi1, Mathur Pulkit2 1Senior Research Fellow, Department of Food and Nutrition, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Sikandra Road, Delhi, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Food and Nutrition, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Sikandra Road, Delhi, India Online published on 15 December, 2017. Abstract Nutritional requirements increase tremendously during adolescence. Therefore, the present study wanted to assess the nutritional quality of the diet to low and middle-income adolescents of Delhi, the capital city of India. Dietary intake was assessed for 1030, 12–16 year old children studying in private (n=4) and government schools (n=4)using a three day food record. It was found that in private school children, for all food groups the percent adequacy of consumption was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to the percent adequacy in government school children. It was found that for all nutrients except folic acid, zinc and dietary fibre, private school children had a significantly higher percent adequacy of consumption (p<0.05) as compared to government school children. Boys belonging to both private and government schools had percent adequacy of consumption for nutrients like calcium and vitamin B12 significantly. Higher (p<0.05) than girls. Girls belonging to both private and government schools had percent adequacy of consumption for energy significantly higher (p<0.05) than boys. Diets of government school children who came from an economically disadvantaged background, were nutritionally inadequate as compared to private school children with respect to most foods and nutrients. Private school children on the other hand, were consuming nutrients like energy, and total fat above the recommended amounts. Therefore, children and parents need to be sensitized to ensure that children in this critical growing age consume nutritionally balanced meals avoiding excess consumption of energy, especially from fat and sugar. Top Keywords Recommended Dietary Allowance, Nutritional Adequacy, Adolescents, Malnutrition. Top |