NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF

ADOLESCENT BOYS
CENTRAL DEPARTMENT OF HOME SCIENCE, TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

SUBMITTED TO: PREPARED BY:

DR. JAYA PRADHAN PRAMILA TIMALSINA(199)
MS. MANODHARA SHAKYA
MRS. SWETA BADE

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Padma Kanya Multiple Campus for providing an
opportunity to carry out the field study for the fulfilment of course requirement for the master's
degree in Home Science (Food and Nutrition).

I extend my gratefulness to our teacher Mrs. Jaya Pradhan, Mrs. Sweta Bade, Mrs. Manodhara for
her valuable suggestion, encouragement and guidance throughout the study period. Similarly, I am
are thankful to all the teachers of Padma Kanya Multiple Campus for their co-operation, guidance
and suggestions. Last but not the least, I would like to thank all the members of the Dolagiri
Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Changunarayan for their cooperation this study would not have been
completed.

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Introduction:
Adolescence is the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood

and before adulthood, from ages 10 to 19 years. It represents one of the critical transitions
in the life span and is characterized by a tremendous pace in growth and change that is
second only to that of infancy (WHO, 2015).
Adolescence is the time of life when growth is completed and individuals become sexually
mature. Biological processes drive many aspects of the adolescent growth and development, with
the onset of puberty marking the passage from childhood to adolescence. The process of
adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which time several key developmental
experiences occur. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and potential, it is also a
time of considerable risk during which social contexts exert powerful influences.

1. Early adolescence (10–14 years):

The age of 10 to 14 years can be considered as early adolescence. It is at this stage that
physical changes generally commence, usually beginning with a growth spurt and soon
followed by the development of the sex organs and secondary sexual characteristics. These
external changes are often very obvious and can be a source of anxiety as well as
excitement or pride for the individual whose body is undergoing the transformation. The
internal changes in the individual, although less evident, are equally profound. The brain
also undergoes a spectacular burst of electrical and physiological development. The
number of brain cells can almost double in the course of a year, while neural networks are
radically reorganized, with a consequent impact on emotional, physical and mental ability.
2. Late adolescence (15–19 years)
Late adolescence encompasses the ages of 15 and 19 years. The major physical changes
have usually occurred by now, although the body is still developing. The brain continues
to develop and reorganize itself, and the capacity for analytical and reflective thought is
greatly enhanced. Peer-group opinions still tend to be important at the outset, but their hold
diminishes as adolescents gain more clarity and confidence in their own identity and
opinions.

Changes during adolescence

1. Physical changes: Growth in physical size during adolescence is second to the growth
that occurs in infancy. Some physical changes during teenage are as below:
a. Body composition: During adolescence, boy’s muscle mass increases and
shoulders broaden, whereas girls increase their body fat and develop rounder hips
and smaller waists. The pattern and rate of development in body composition differ
in boys and girls. Girls attain peak height growth velocity at a younger age than
boys, i.e. at 11.5 years of age but boys attain a maximal height growth velocity 13.5
years of age, which is higher than that for girls and height increases for a longer
period of time.
b. Sexual maturity: The growth spurt is accompanied by sexual maturity. Sexual
maturation can be determined by evaluating pubertal development based on
secondary sex characteristics: testicular and penile development and

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 appearance of pubic hair in boys; breast development and appearance of pubic
hair in girls which is known as tanner stage rating.
2. Psycho-social changes: Besides physical and sexual maturation, changes include
movement toward social and economic independence, and development of identity, the
acquisition of skills needed to carry out adult relationships and roles, and the capacity
for abstract reasoning. As adolescence is a transition to adulthood, they try to develop
self-identity. The desire to be accepted in their peer group changes their food habits,
dressing and group conduct. This in turn brings psychological, emotional and social
stress. There is occurrence of transition towards greater autonomy from parents and
their values, and a progressively more central role of peers as role models, advisors,
friends and determinants of interests and values.

Factors affecting adolescent nutritional status

Some factors that could affect the nutritional status of adolescents are as below:
1. Dietary adequacy:
Adolescent growth and development is closely linked to the diet they receive during
childhood and adolescence. Adequate nutrition of any individual is determined by two
factors. The first is the adequate availability of food in terms of quantity as well as
quality, which depends on socioeconomic status, food practices, cultural traditions, and
allocation of the food. The second factor is the ability to digest, absorb, and utilize the
food. This ability can be hampered by infection and by metabolic disorders. Dietary
inadequacies might be caused by an inadequate supply of food or by mothers having
too little time to prepare food.
2. Physiological condition and lifestyle:
Growth imposes additional nutritional requirements in adolescence. Athletes who need
to maintain a certain weight for competition may resort to extreme weight-loss
measures (diet pills, laxatives, starvation, etc.) that can impair both performance and
health. Weight and dieting concerns of adolescent athletes place them at greater risk of
eating disorders and low-energy diets are more likely to be inadequate in micronutrients
such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B6.
3. Psycho-social factors:
Although parents can still be effective role models, adolescents are generally strongly
influenced by their peers, their personal food preferences, and their own developing
sense of which foods constitute a healthful and adequate diet. Changes in eating
patterns during adolescence are influenced by cognitive, physical, social, and lifestyle
factors. Weight management and body image are topics of great importance, and
interest in adolescence. Serious concerns about body image can cause some health
consequences such as dietary disorders, and psychological discontent. The search for
identity, the struggle for independence and acceptance, and concern about appearance,
are changes that may have a great impact on lifestyle, eating patterns and
intakes of adolescents.

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Nutritional requirements of adolescents
A requirement is an intake level, which will meet specified criteria of adequacy, preventing
risk of deficit or excess (FAO and WHO, 2001). After puberty, there is difference in nutritional
requirement of girls and boys. The reason for it includes earlier maturation of females and
variations in physiological needs for some nutrients by sex e.g., difference in the requirement of
iron. Besides differences in height and weight, boys gain proportionately more muscle mass than
fat as compared to girls. They experience increased linear growth to produce a heavier skeleton
and develop greater red blood cell mass than girls. Girls on the other hand have more fat than
muscle tissues. These differences in body composition have important implications for nutritional
needs of male and female adolescents.
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the average daily dietary nutrient intake
level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy
individuals in a particular life stage and gender group (ICMR, 2010). ICMR has calculated
the nutrient requirements considering all adolescents as moderately active. The recommended
Daily allowance as provided by ICMR in 2010 is given as below:

Energy and nutrient requirements of boys:

Age in years
Nutrients 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Energy (kcal) 2030 2180 2370 2580 2760 2890 2980 3060 2730
Protein (g) 36.3 39.60 43.7 49.8 54.7 58.2 60.8 62.2 60
Visible fat (g) 35 35 35 45 45 45 50 50 30
Calcium (mg) 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 600
Iron (mg) 21 21 21 32 32 32 28 28 17
Vitamin A (μg) 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600
Retinol 4800 4800 4800 4800 4800 4800 4800 4800 4800
β-carotene 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4
Thiamine (mg) 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.6
Riboflavin (mg) 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 18
Niacin equivalent (mg) 1.6 1.6 1.6 2 2 2 2 2 2
Pyridoxine (mg) 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
Ascorbic Acid (mg) 140 140 140 150 150 150 200 200 200
Dietary folate (μg) 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 0.2-1 1
Vitamin B12 (μg) 120 120 120 165 165 165 195 195 340
Magnesium (μg) 9 9 9 11 11 11 12 12 12
Zinc (mg)

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Objectives of field visit:

 To assess nutritional status and dietary intake of adolescents boy of Chandragiri

municipality, ward number 4.
 To collect information about dietary intake and dietary habits of adolescents boy.
 To identify the factors affecting nutritional status.

Study Area:

Study was done in the Public school of Changunarayan, Ward number three.

Methods and Methodology:

 Physical parameters were used to obtain anthropometric information.

 Food intakes, social class and knowledge about health education were obtained by
questionnaries.

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Result and Discussion:

Anthropometric information
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Adolescent boys

Sn Age Height (cm) Weight (kg) stunted BMI underweight wasting

Food Behavior:

Feeding habit per day: 75% of the adolescent participant feeds themselves 2 to 3 times per day and
rest of the 25% feeds 3 to 5 times per day.

Around 90% adolescent boys were non vegetarian and among non-vegetarian mostly (80%)
preferred chicken whereas (10%) buff meat also. Only 5% was pure vegan and 5%was lacto-ovo
vegetarian.

Dairy product and meat consumption intake was found commonly daily (10%), once a week
(40%), moderately twice a week (20%) and rest by once or twice a month.

All 95% preferred junk food example noodles and only one participant preferred fresh and cooked
green leafy vegetables and fruits

All most all the participants consumed tea and biscuits along with it for Breakfast and few also
consumed breads.

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Almost all the adolescent boys consumed Rice or roti, lentils and mixed vegetables and meat
products occasionally as the Nepali pattern of lunch and dinner.
On other hand, snacks included variations such as, Noodles, Chowmein, Biscuit, Chana, Beaten
rice, Doughnut, Samosa, Chips, Egg, roti and tarkari.

All the adolescent boy participants had regularly protein such as pulses and beans.

All the adolescent boy participants included Green leafy vegetables in their diet regularly.

Mostly the adolescent boy participants included fruits in their diet whenever available.

Around 60% adolescent boys participants drank water 2 to 4 glass of water (300ml) in a day , 30%
of them use 5-7 glass of water and 10% of them use to drink 8 or more glass of water (300ml) in
a day.

Many of the participants use snacks from canteen in school during tiffin break. Some also buys
from shop and very few brought home made tiffin. Therefore almost all the boys had to carry their
pocket money in order to buy foods in between school for tiffin. They usually buy and eat
Chowmein, samosa, momo, selroti and tarkari, noodles, biscuits, chips, egg and chiura, doughnut,
Chana.

Almost all the participants said they were satisfied with their body weight. But twp participants
was found to be overweight according to their age.

Most of the participants use their night meal. However, sometimes they escape their, meal in case
they use to have heavy snack right after returning back from school.

None (100%) of the participants use to smoke. However, the alcohol consumption was seen among
the adolescent participants. In details, 20% boys consumed alcohol and rest 70% did not. Among
the 20% showed the reason for drinking alcohol as a part of their culture since they were Newar
which were ethnic community and uses alcohol for every auspicious occasions.

Clinical Assessment:
For the clinical assessment factors like Hair color and luster, Nails, Eyes, Skin and Edema were
detected, where all the factors were assessed normal. None of the participants had unusual hair
color, spooned nails, pale eyes, edema and rough and dry skin however some had dry skin which
were considered to be due to cold and winter.

Conclusion and suggestions:

Adolescent boys participated in our questionnaires were found to have homemade foods as well
as junk food where different items of food, vegetables and fruits were included. However, they did
not have the proper idea on nutrition neither any nutrition related programs were conducted there.
So, conduction of nutritional programs for all age groups in that area would be highly fruitful.

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Sample questions
Survey Questionnaire

A. General information
1. Name of child: _________________________________

2. Age (in years):_________ Date of birth (B.S.):

3. Address: ___

B. Anthropometric information

Height (cm):

Weight (kg):

C. Basic Questions

1. How many times a day do you eat?

 2-3 times/day
 3-5 times/day
 5-8 times/day

2. What are you?

 Vegan
 Lacto-vegetarian
 Lacto-ovo vegetarian
 Non-vegetarian

3. If non vegetarian, what do you prefer to eat?

 chicken/duck
 pork
 mutton
 buff

4. How often do you intake meat and milk product?

 Daily
 Twice a week
 Once a week
 Once or twice a month

5. What do you prefer eating more?

 Fast foods
 junk foods
 Sweets

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  Fresh and cooked green leafy vegetables and fruits

6. What do you eat in breakfast?

 Tea/coffee
 Bread
 Biscuits
 Oat meals

If others, mention______________

7. What do you eat in lunch?

8. What do you include in snacks?

9. What do you have in dinner?

10. How often do you have pulses, beans?

11. Do you include green leafy vegetables in your diet?

 Yes
 No

If yes, how often? _______

12. How often do you eat fruits?

 Everyday
 In an irregular day
 Whenever available

13. How many glasses (300 ml) of water do you drink/day?

 1
 2-4
 5-7
 8 or more

14. Do you have daily pocket money?

 Yes
 No
 Sometimes

15. Where do you buy food from?

 school canteen
 shops
 restaurants

16. What do you buy most?

(----------------------)

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17. How do you feel about your figure?

 Overweight
 Right weight
 Thin

18. Have you ever tried losing weight?

 Yes
 No

19. Have you ever tried gaining weight?

 Yes
 No

20. Do you escape meal?

 Yes
 No

If yes, how often do you escape?

(________________)

21. Do you smoke?

 Yes
 No

If yes,

a. When did you start?

(_________________)

b. Who did you get influenced by?

 Family
 Friends
 Neighbors
 Movies

If other, mention_____________

21. Do you drink alcoholic beverages?

 Yes
 No

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