Assessing the determinants of food choices among adolescents in India: A rainbow model using the socio-ecological framework.

IF 2.5
PLOS global public health Pub Date : 2025-09-23 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0004776
Kanishka Upadhyay, Bhavika Singhvi, Reshma Nakte, Mokalla Thirupathi Reddy, Hrusikesh Panda, Preetu Mishra, SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu
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Abstract

In India, the rising risk of overweight and obesity among adolescents is a significant public health concern, primarily associated with their frequent consumption of nutrient-poor snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fast foods. Identifying the determinants of their food choices is crucial for developing effective nutrition promotion strategies. This study aimed to identify the determinants of food choices among adolescents in two metro cities in North and South India using a cross-sectional, mixed-methods approach. The study involved adolescents (n = 869) studying in 8th and 9th grades from randomly selected government and private schools, utilizing a pre-tested questionnaire and virtual food preference flip cards (quantitative phase), along with in-depth interviews with adolescents, teachers, and parents (n = 11) (qualitative phase). A four-level socio-ecological model was adopted to categorize the determinants associated with adolescent's food choices. The findings revealed that taste (51%) was the primary determinant driving adolescents to choose outside foods, followed by peer influence (31%) and trendy foods (27%). In-depth interviews further highlighted the impact of social media, parental influence, celebrity endorsements, popular food trends, and marketing incentives such as toys and coupons on adolescents' food choices. The study provides a springboard for future research into the development of a nutrition-friendly choice architecture to encourage adolescents to make healthy food choices. Public health policy should utilize these determinants to transform the existing food environment of adolescents.

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评估印度青少年食物选择的决定因素:使用社会生态框架的彩虹模型。
在印度,青少年超重和肥胖风险的上升是一个重大的公共卫生问题,主要与他们经常食用营养不良的零食、含糖饮料和快餐有关。确定其食物选择的决定因素对于制定有效的营养促进战略至关重要。本研究旨在利用横断面混合方法确定印度北部和南部两个大都市青少年食物选择的决定因素。该研究涉及随机选择的公立和私立学校八年级和九年级的青少年(n = 869),使用预测试问卷和虚拟食物偏好翻转卡(定量阶段),以及对青少年,教师和父母的深入访谈(n = 11)(定性阶段)。采用四级社会生态模型对青少年食物选择的决定因素进行分类。调查结果显示,口味(51%)是促使青少年选择户外食品的主要决定因素,其次是同伴影响(31%)和时尚食品(27%)。深度访谈进一步强调了社交媒体、父母影响、名人代言、流行食品趋势以及玩具和优惠券等营销激励对青少年食物选择的影响。这项研究为未来的研究提供了一个跳板,以发展营养友好的选择架构,以鼓励青少年做出健康的食物选择。公共卫生政策应利用这些决定因素来改变青少年现有的食物环境。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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