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Perspectives of Food Availability, Healthfulness and Modernity Among Adolescents in India
Author(s) -
Shaikh Nida,
Maxfield Amanda,
Ramakrishnan Usha,
Patil Shailaja,
Cunningham Solveig
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.898.30
Subject(s) - modernity , perception , psychological intervention , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , political science , neuroscience , law
Background Globalization of food markets has increased availability of foods & beverages (FaB) in developing regions. Adolescents' perception of FaB availability, healthfulness & modernity however is unknown. Aim Understand adolescents' perceptions of FaB in a globalizing Indian city. Methods School‐going adolescents (n=26), randomly selected, completed freelists in Bijapur, India. Participants were asked to define 'healthy, unhealthy, traditional, & modern' & freelisted FaB that sold in different food stores, new to their city, traditional & healthy, modern & healthy, traditional & unhealthy, and modern & unhealthy. Frequency & saliency for freelists were calculated. Results Mean age of adolescents was 15 ± 1.6 y, with 56% male & 65% attending public schools. Amongst ten most salient FaB new to city, 6 were viewed as modern & unhealthy, 3 as traditional & unhealthy, 2 as modern & healthy, and 4 as available in supermarkets & kiraana (small) stores, respectively. Six of ten most salient FaB are sold in supermarkets & kiraana stores. Vegetables & rice were among ten most salient FaB sold in supermarkets, also viewed as traditional & healthy. Conclusion Adolescents view healthfulness & modernity of FaB as distinct domains. Most new to city FaB believed to be modern & unhealthy are also sold at different food stores. Adolescents' perceptions of FaB need to be considered in development of interventions to improve adolescent health.