Abstract
Adolescent growth and development depend on multifactorial correlates such as socioeconomic status, dietary intake, nutritional knowledge, and quality of the food with special reference to eating behavior. Undernutrition status of adolescent girls is associated with inferior health and risk of obstetric complications in future.
A cross-sectional study was carried out on 576 girls to assess the nutritional status and nutritional knowledge of adolescent girls (10–19 years) residing in rural, urban, and slum localities of Lucknow, India. Nutrient intake and eating behavior were assessed by 24-hour dietary recall method and eating behavior schedule, respectively.
The results revealed that the eating pattern of adolescent girls was significantly different in three locality living population. Significant difference in nutritional knowledge score was also observed in girls of three localities. Association of eating with family and eating pattern was found to be significant in all three groups. Stunting was found significantly associated with eating behavior of the girls. Nutritional knowledge and eating behavior were significantly affected by each other; therefore, it can be concluded that eating behavior is associated with nutritional status and nutritional knowledge.