Explanatory Analysis of Habits and Associated Factors Influencing Adolescent Food Habits and Health

This research paper is a comprehensive study on health trends amongst the Indian adolescent population, with a particular focus on the psychological factors affecting these trends. The data sample (N=740) is unbiased and is representative of the Indian population across more than 20 states. The results of this study indicate that adolescents are likely to have an unhealthy lifestyle due to varying factors such as deteriorating snacking habits, adaptation to a sedentary lifestyle, and sleep deprivation. Further, psychological factors that exacerbate adolescents' overall health include peer pressure and stress caused by regular academic assessment. Adolescents are mostvulnerable to body dysmorphic disorders, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa, caused by external factors such as social media. Obesity affects males and females differently: in females, obesity leads to increased body comparisons, while in males, it leads to decreased interaction with peers. Poor food trends emerge when adolescents move away from their homes, indicating an increase in fast-food consumption. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - including mental health conditions, stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease - affect today's adolescents at an increasing rate, driven primarily by behaviours that often begin during childhood and adolescence.