Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Status of Young Adults in Northern Bangladesh

limited dietary diversity is a major challenge and the cause of malnutrition in rural and urban poor households b in Bangladesh. Most families depend on carbohydrate-rich staple food crops and eat few animal products, fruits, or fruits and veggies, having contributed to an increment in the amount of individual’s malnutrition.

This study was a cross-sectional, conducted on 358 participants. Data were collected using pretested, structured self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical package and level of significance was set at p < 0.05

Among the total population are 79.9% Bengali and 20.9% were ethnic. 57.0% & 43.0% were female and male respectively. 53.6% belong from 18-25 age group. Most of the participants were Housewife (38.0%). Around 39.4% respondents complete the secondary education whereas only 14.8% had no education. Most of the participants belong from medium and high-income group 36.6% & 62.3% respectively. Among the study participants 10% were Underweight, 33.0% belong from normal nutritional status, Overweight 19.8%, Obese 37.2%. Around 68.7% participants have high diversity score and 19% have medium diversified food while only 12% have less diversified food. In-spite of high diversity score most of the people don’t consume fats and oils and vitamin A rich foods. A significant relationship was found with nutritional status and age, gender, occupation, monthly income as p value was <0.05.

The female participants were suffering from malnutrition than their counterparts. The prevalence of underweight among female was 6 times higher than male.