Efficacy of nutrition counseling related to junk foods on health status of adolescent girls of working mothers

A sample of sixty adolescent girls of working mothers aged 16–18 years frequently were selected from two schools in Ludhiana and divided equally into two groups viz. Experimental (E) and Control (C). The data on demographic information, junk food consumption pattern, nutrient intake, clinical, morbidity and haematological profile were recorded before and after nutrition counseling. Nutrition counseling was imparted for a period of three months through modules, lectures and visual aids to group E. It was observed that 86.7 & 93.3 per cent of subjects spent their monthly pocket money on junk foods in group E & C respectively and majority ate junk foods once a week at least. It was observed that junk foods contributed to 54 & 57 per cent and 50 & 52.20 per cent to total energy intake in group E & C before and after nutrition counseling respectively. The daily intake of energy (74%), protein (65.45%), ß-carotene (65%), niacin (45%), vitamin B₁₂ (28%), iron (36%), calcium (64.4%) was less than ICMR (2010) recommendations, while intake of fats, thiamine and ascorbic acid was adequate in group E after nutrition counseling. Nutritional deficiency symptoms such as feeling of fatigue & lethargy were most common among 73.3 and 43.3 per cent in both the groups respectively. It was observed that 50 and 33.3 per cent suffered from common cold, 50 and 26.7 per cent from cough before and after nutrition counseling in group E respectively, while no change was observed in group C. It was observed that mean Haemaglobin levels were 9.14±1.56 and 8.56±1.67 g/dl in group E and C before nutrition counseling, it increased to 9.78±1.32 g/dl in group E after nutrition counseling, while no change was observed in group C. It was suggested that there is need to impart nutrition counseling for longer duration to improve their health status.