Research Article
Food Variety Scores Reflect Diet Quality Better Than Dietary Diversity Scores – A Study on School Children in Mumbai City
G Bhide1, A Thorat2, A Goyal3* and SA Udipi4
1Graduate Student, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India
2Visiting Faculty, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India
3Research Fellow, Medical Research Centre – Kasturba Healthy Society, Mumbai, India
4Research Director and Head, Medical Research Centre – Kasturba Healthy Society, Mumbai, India
2Visiting Faculty, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India
3Research Fellow, Medical Research Centre – Kasturba Healthy Society, Mumbai, India
4Research Director and Head, Medical Research Centre – Kasturba Healthy Society, Mumbai, India
*Corresponding author: Goyal A, Research Fellow, Medical Research Centre – Kasturba Healthy Society, Mumbai, India. E-mail Id: goyal.aditi157@gmail.com
Article Information: Submission: 15/04/2023; Accepted: 10/05/2023; Published: 17/05/2023
Copyright: © 2023 Bhide G, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The present study examined the association between dietary diversity (DD), body mass index (BMI), and per cent body fat (PBF) in, 10-11-year-old school children (n=201) from two schools located in a central urban area of Mumbai, India. DD was assessed with FFQ using the FANTA food categories.
20% of the children were underweight, and 13% of the study sample was overweight/obese. Majority of the children were in the normal range of BMI and PBF categories. DD scores were quite high, with the mean DDS being 12.4 ± 0.7 out of a maximum possible score of 13. Mean DDS did not differ between BMI and PBF categories. DD was also assessed by calculating the total dietary score (TDS), its percentage, and food group diversity scores. Processed food items contributed to almost 25% of TDS whereas vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables contributed very little. Consumption of food group ‘fried foods and snacks’ was significantly higher among the girls, suggesting they may favour such foods more. The study indicated good DDS, but the TDS indicated some food groups were overemphasized. It is necessary to empower the younger generation about the importance of healthy diet patterns and lifestyle, well-being, and good
health in the long term.
Keywords: School Age Children; Dietary Diversity; BMI; Percent Body Fat; Food Variety