ABSTRACT
In recent decades, global food
systems have undergone marked changes due to advances in food processing and
technology that have resulted in greater availability, affordability, and
marketing of highly processed foods, hence processed and ultra-processed foods
products are packaged formulations resulting from several sequences of
industrial processes. Dietary pattern represent ways by which individual
consume foods. This study assessed the consumption of ultra-processed foods,
dietary pattern and anthropometric status of adolescents 10-19 years in Umuahia
South Local Government Area ofAbia State. A cross-sectional study design was
used to conduct the study. Data was collected from the respondents with the use
of a well-structured and validated questionnaire and it was analyzed, with the
use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The results
obtained was presented in frequency and percentage. The results of the findings
showed that 56.9% of the respondents were ofthe age range 10-15 years and 43.1%
were from 16-19 years. The result showed that 45.6% ofthe respondents were
males while more than half (54.4%) were females. Furthermore, 35.3% of the
respondents were of the household size 1-3 persons, while more than half
(52.9%) had 4-6 persons and very little (11.8%) had 7-9 persons. The result
showed that majority (78.2%) ofthe respondents were Christians which could be
attributed to the study area, 17.3% practiced traditions and only 4.5% were
Islams. Additionally, the result indicated that majority (76.4%) of the
respondents were Igbos because the research was conducted in the South Eastern
region of Nigeria, 13.3% were Hausa, while the rest population made up Yoruba
and others religion (7.5%) and (2.8%) respectively, the result showed the
educational status of the respondent’s parents where 17.5% had no formal
education, while 31.1% went to primary school whereas 29.3% went to secondary
school and 22.1% only attended tertiary level of education. The result also
showed that 34.8% ofthe respondent’s parents worked as civil servants, while
16.3% worked as farmers, 43.6% were traders/business people and just 5.3% were
not employed. The result also showed that 10.0% of the respondents earned below
N30,000 while 71.9% earned between N31,000-N90,0000 and 18.0% earned N91,000
and above. The result also showed that 10.5% ofthe respondents consumed food
once a day, while 43.4% consumed foods three times a day and 6.0% consumed food
anytime they feel hungry. Furthermore, majority (66.4%) ofthe respondents
skipped meals and 33.6% do' not. The result also showed that vast majority
(91.2%) of the respondents consumed snacks while only 8.8% do not. The result
showed that 36.6% ofthe respondents consumed fruits drinks, 32.8% consumed coke
and 14.3% consumed Fanta. The result showed that 44.6% ofthe respondents
consumed soft drinks once a week, 23.7% consumed it daily and 22.8% never
consumed it. The findings ofthis study showed that 44.9% ofthe respondents were
underweight of which males were 42.9% and females 46.5%. Furthermore, 49.8%
ofthe respondents showed a normal body mass index which comprises 55.5% of the
males and 45.2% of females. In addition, 3.8% were overweight of which 1.6%
were males and 5.5% were females. About 1.5% of the respondents were obese
making up only for the females. The findings ofthis research work showed that
parents did not have a good knowledge of ultra-processed food consumption and
its influence on the nutritional status oftheir children, the findings also
showed that the respondents had a poor dietary pattern and engaged in less
physical activities.
CHINAEMEREM, R (2024). Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Dietary Patterns And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescents In Umuahia:- Madumere, Chinaemerem R. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Oct 10, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/consumption-of-ultra-processed-foods-dietary-patterns-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescents-in-umuahia-madumere-chinaemerem-r-7-2
REGINA, CHINAEMEREM. "Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Dietary Patterns And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescents In Umuahia:- Madumere, Chinaemerem R" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 17 Sep. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/consumption-of-ultra-processed-foods-dietary-patterns-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescents-in-umuahia-madumere-chinaemerem-r-7-2. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.
REGINA, CHINAEMEREM. "Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Dietary Patterns And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescents In Umuahia:- Madumere, Chinaemerem R". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 17 Sep. 2024. Web. 10 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/consumption-of-ultra-processed-foods-dietary-patterns-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescents-in-umuahia-madumere-chinaemerem-r-7-2 >.
REGINA, CHINAEMEREM. "Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Dietary Patterns And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescents In Umuahia:- Madumere, Chinaemerem R" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2024). Accessed 10 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/consumption-of-ultra-processed-foods-dietary-patterns-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescents-in-umuahia-madumere-chinaemerem-r-7-2