Energy and nutrient intake by 11-13-year-old young adolescents attending private schools in Delhi, India

There are no high-quality data on dietary behaviour of adolescents in India. This study aimed to assess the intake of energy (E), macronutrients and selected micronutrients in a sample of 11-13-year-old schoolchildren in Delhi, India. Participants from private schools (n=10) recorded dietary intake using a 3-d food diary. Information was entered into the dietary assessment tool, Intake24, to ascertain portion size and convert data into nutrient intake through integrated food tables. Of the 514 consenting participants, 393 (76<middle dot>4 %) (169 girls, 224 boys) aged 11<middle dot>4 (+/- 1<middle dot>8) years completed the study. The median (interquartile range (IQR) daily E intake was 2580 (2139<middle dot>3-2989<middle dot>8) kcal (10<middle dot>8 (9<middle dot>0 - 12<middle dot>5) MJ) for girls and 2941<middle dot>5 (2466<middle dot>7-3599<middle dot>3) kcal (12<middle dot>3 (10<middle dot>3-15<middle dot>2) MJ) for boys. The median (IQR) daily nutrient intakes for girls and boys respectively were protein 64<middle dot>6 (54<middle dot>8-79<middle dot>3) g, 74<middle dot>4 (61<middle dot>4; 89<middle dot>4) g; carbohydrate 336<middle dot>5 (285<middle dot>3-393<middle dot>6) g, 379<middle dot>6 (317<middle dot>8-461<middle dot>8) g; and saturated fat 45<middle dot>6 (34<middle dot>8-58<middle dot>3) g, 54<middle dot>6 (41<middle dot>9-69<middle dot>5) g. There were no significant between-gender differences in percentage E from protein (10<middle dot>2 (9<middle dot>2-11<middle dot>4)), or carbohydrate (52<middle dot>4 (48<middle dot>7-56<middle dot>7)). Girls obtained less percentage E from saturated fat (16<middle dot>1 (11<middle dot>0-18<middle dot>2) compared with boys 16<middle dot>3 (14<middle dot>2-19<middle dot>1) (P < 0<middle dot>05). E from saturated fat was above FAO recommendations in >74 % of participants. The estimated average requirement for iron was achieved by < 40 % of girls. In conclusion, strategies to optimise the dietary intake of adolescents in India should focus on preventing excess intakes of E and saturated fat and improving iron intake in girls.