The Gap Between Nutritional Knowledge And Dietary Practices Of Adolescent Girls Studying In Colleges: A Study Conducted In Ganjam District Of Odisha

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical phase of growth and development that requires adequate nutrition for physical, psychological, and cognitive well-being. Despite increasing awareness regarding healthy eating, many adolescent girls fail to translate nutritional knowledge into proper dietary practices. The present study investigates the gap between nutritional knowledge and dietary practices among college-going adolescent girls in Ganjam District. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 adolescent girls aged 16–19 years from selected colleges of Ganjam district. Structured questionnaires, dietary recall methods, and nutritional awareness scales were employed for data collection. Statistical analysis included percentage analysis, mean scores, standard deviation, correlation, and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that although a majority of respondents possessed moderate to high nutritional knowledge, unhealthy dietary behaviours such as meal skipping, junk food consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables, and irregular breakfast habits persisted. Significant associations were found between socio-economic status, parental education, media exposure, and dietary practices. The study highlights the urgent need for nutrition education interventions, college-based awareness programs, and behavioural modification strategies to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.