A Cross-Sectional Study on Diet Pattern and Physical Activity Among the Youth in Field Practice Area in Chennai

Background: Excessive snacking and physical inactivity are common among young people and put them at a high risk for non- communicable diseases such as diabetes. India has a high diabetic burden, so early prevention is warranted. Lifestyle determinants, usually subject to individual and family decisions, are difficult to manage. Low fruit intake, increased fast food consumption, and lack of physical activity have been reported in Indian children in earlier studies. Evidence on snacking behaviors among adolescents and their overall dietary consequences is scarce. The current study seeks to evaluate physical activity and dietary habits among Chennai youth.  Methods: This Chennai-based two-month cross-sectional survey targeted university students (18-25 years). The sample size was calculated at 172 participants using a 95% confidence level and 10% margin of error, estimating a 50% prevalence of unhealthy diet/physical inactivity, including for a design effect and response rate. Convenience sampling was employed. The data were gathered using a pretested. Google Forms questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, diet, physical activity, and food expenditure. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22, with descriptive statistics and association chi-square tests. Ethical permission and informed consent were granted.  Results: The sample consisted of 186 participants with a mean age of 20.8 years (SD: 2.5), 58.1% female and 41.9% male. The majority (60.2%) had a normal BMI, 29% overweight, and 10.8% underweight. Typically, monthly pocket money ranged from 500-2000 rupees (45.7%). Most were non-vegetarian (88.2%) and skipping breakfast was equally distributed (50%). Fast food was the most frequently consumed snack (40.9%), followed by chocolates (37.6%). Most ate 1 cup of snacks per day (71.5%) and snacked 2-3 times a week (44.6%). The most common physical activity done was walking (51.6%). Rice was the most consumed carbohydrate (88.2%), eaten at 2 cups per day on average (49.5%). Eggs (33.3%) and vegetable proteins (29.6%) were prevalent sources of protein, and 65.6% ate 1 cup per day. Vegetables accounted for the primary iron source (61.8%), whereas vegetables (45.2%) and fruits (41.9%) accounted for the primary fiber source, with 78% eating 1 cup per day. Gender had a significant effect on BMI (p=0.003), with a higher percentage of overweight subjects among males (41%) compared to females (20.4%). Other variables such as pocket money, eating preference, and frequencies of nutrient intakes were not significantly related to BMI. Conclusion: The research identifies key problems in diet and physical activity among young Indians as excessive fast food intake and a low level of physical activity. Gender is found to have a strong impact on BMI, necessitating gender-specific interventions. The results stress the imperative to develop overall strategies for enhancing healthy lifestyles and mitigating lifestyle-determined health risk. It is suggested that longitudinal studies be conducted to study the long-term effects of spending habits and eating times on health parameters.