Perceived healthiness leading to unhealthy Snacking among early adolescents in an urban municipality area of Sri Lanka: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract Snacking prevalence in all age groups has increased across the globe over the years. Adolescents are a vulnerable population for unhealthy snacking and can be the ideal target group for early nutrition interventions for behavioral changes. Objective: To assess the snacking behavior, its determinants and its association with nutritional status among students of Grade 6–9 in schools of Galle Municipality area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 540 early adolescents in Grades 6–9 of Government schools in Galle Municipality area, recruited using multistage cluster sampling. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used. Associations were assessed using Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of snacking in the sample was 96.1% and the prevalence of unhealthy snacking was 22.2%. Snacks were taken 1–2 times a day in 81.8%. Snacks were chosen by themselves (38.5%) and in 50.2% the reason was the perceived “healthiness” of the snacks. The evening was the preferred snacking time (49.1%), the context was teatime (62.8%), followed by watching TV (43.0%). The popular snacks were biscuits (43.7%), chips (31.9%) and pastries (22.2%). Nearly 90% replaced main meals with a snack. Significant associations of unhealthy snacking snacking at tea time (p = 0.032) were found. Associations were not significant between unhealthy snacking and gender, parental education status or other contextual factors such as place of stay, and mode of travelling (p > 0.05). The association of Nutritional status and unhealthy snacking was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions and recommendations: Snaking behaviour is common among almost all adolescents. Unhealthy snacking is less prevalent and shows associations with income and availability/use of pocket money for snacks. Nutrition interventions should be conducted focusing on adolescents as well as families to change unhealthy snacking behavior.