ABSTRACT

In recent decades, global food systems have undergone marked changes due to advances in food processing and technology that have resulted in greater availability, affordability, and marketing of highly processed foods, hence processed and ultra-processed foods products are packaged formulations resulting from several sequences of industrial processes. Dietary pattern represent ways by which individual consume foods. This study assessed the consumption of ultra-processed foods, dietary pattern and anthropometric status of adolescents 10-19 years in Umuahia South Local Government Area ofAbia State. A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the study. Data was collected from the respondents with the use of a well-structured and validated questionnaire and it was analyzed, with the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The results obtained was presented in frequency and percentage. The results of the findings showed that 56.9% of the respondents were ofthe age range 10-15 years and 43.1% were from 16-19 years. The result showed that 45.6% ofthe respondents were males while more than half (54.4%) were females. Furthermore, 35.3% of the respondents were of the household size 1-3 persons, while more than half (52.9%) had 4-6 persons and very little (11.8%) had 7-9 persons. The result showed that majority (78.2%) ofthe respondents were Christians which could be attributed to the study area, 17.3% practiced traditions and only 4.5% were Islams. Additionally, the result indicated that majority (76.4%) of the respondents were Igbos because the research was conducted in the South Eastern region of Nigeria, 13.3% were Hausa, while the rest population made up Yoruba and others religion (7.5%) and (2.8%) respectively, the result showed the educational status of the respondent’s parents where 17.5% had no formal education, while 31.1% went to primary school whereas 29.3% went to secondary school and 22.1% only attended tertiary level of education. The result also showed that 34.8% ofthe respondent’s parents worked as civil servants, while 16.3% worked as farmers, 43.6% were traders/business people and just 5.3% were not employed. The result also showed that 10.0% of the respondents earned below N30,000 while 71.9% earned between N31,000-N90,0000 and 18.0% earned N91,000 and above. The result also showed that 10.5% ofthe respondents consumed food once a day, while 43.4% consumed foods three times a day and 6.0% consumed food anytime they feel hungry. Furthermore, majority (66.4%) ofthe respondents skipped meals and 33.6% do' not. The result also showed that vast majority (91.2%) of the respondents consumed snacks while only 8.8% do not. The result showed that 36.6% ofthe respondents consumed fruits drinks, 32.8% consumed coke and 14.3% consumed Fanta. The result showed that 44.6% ofthe respondents consumed soft drinks once a week, 23.7% consumed it daily and 22.8% never consumed it. The findings ofthis study showed that 44.9% ofthe respondents were underweight of which males were 42.9% and females 46.5%. Furthermore, 49.8% ofthe respondents showed a normal body mass index which comprises 55.5% of the males and 45.2% of females. In addition, 3.8% were overweight of which 1.6% were males and 5.5% were females. About 1.5% of the respondents were obese making up only for the females. The findings ofthis research work showed that parents did not have a good knowledge of ultra-processed food consumption and its influence on the nutritional status oftheir children, the findings also showed that the respondents had a poor dietary pattern and engaged in less physical activities.