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Dietary Energy Consumption Pattern and Intake of Cholesterol and Dietary Fibre among 11-13 Year-old Children in the City of Colombo

A. D. D. C. Athauda iD, D. G. N. G. Wijesinghe, G. A. P. Chandrasekara

Tropical Agricultural Research 36(2): 132–142 · 2025

https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v36i2.8932

Abstract

Childhood obesity is rising in the city of Colombo and the composition of children’s diet, which has a direct link to it, has not been adequately investigated. Hence a cross-sectional study was conducted recruiting 634 school-children (11-13 year-old) using multistage stratified cluster sampling technique to assess dietary energy contribution from macronutr ients, saturated fat (SF) and added sugar. In addition, cholesterol and fibre intake were estimated. Food and bevera ges consumed were recorded using a three-day diet-diary. Results indicated that, % energy from carbohydrate (%CHO) and cholesterol intake were within the recommend ation while % energy from protein (%Protein) was below the recommendation. Intake of fibre was approxim ately 1/4th of the recommend level and energy from SF (%SF) and added sugar was above the recommendation, irrespectiv e of gender, food security status and school type. The % energy contribution from fat (%Fat) among national school (NS ) children was above the recommended level, while that of provincial school (PS) children remained within the recom mendation. Boys consumed a higher %Protein, %Fat and %SF and cholesterol than girls (p

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