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. 2021 May-Jun;14(3):376-382.
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1975.

Quantifying Dietary Diversity by Using Food Group Scores among Schoolchildren of Jaipur: A Seasonal Longitudinal Study

Anupama Gaur  1 , Meenakshi Sharma  2 , Rajesh Sharma  3 , Nikhil Marwah  4
Affiliations

Quantifying Dietary Diversity by Using Food Group Scores among Schoolchildren of Jaipur: A Seasonal Longitudinal Study

Anupama Gaur et al. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Need of the study: Most dentists are concerned that their patients are consuming a record number of sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and other stuff that affect their oral environment. Children are invariably the victims of these foodstuffs. These items generally have very little nutritional value, albeit their commercial value. Thus, dietary habits and the choice of food among children and teens are important factors that determine how quickly they may develop oral diseases. Thus, to design good intervention programs and preventive strategies, information on food habits and dietary intake of the target population is very important.

Aim and objective: To determine dietary diversity using food group score (FGS) among 12-15 years schoolchildren of urban and rural areas of Jaipur.

Materials and methods: Jaipur district is divided into 13 Tehsils. Based on a simple random number table, Bhanpur (Rural) and Central Jaipur (Urban) were selected for the present study. Food group scores were calculated from the 5-day diet diary of the study subjects.

Results: Scores were found to be higher in winters as compared to the summer season and this difference is observed to be highly statistically significant. Scores were found to be higher in urban schoolchildren as compared to rural and the difference was highly statistically significant among urban schoolchildren in winters. Scores were found to be higher among private schoolchildren as compared to government and this difference was highly statistically significant among schoolchildren belonging to urban areas.

Conclusion: There is a need for nutritional counseling and basic oral health care in the study area irrespective of the season. The dietary diversity of children is determined by social, psychological, and economic factors. Thus, counseling should be given accordingly in conjunction with a team of health professionals including physicians, dieticians, and dentists under the supervision of parents, guardians, and schoolteachers and management.

How to cite this article: Gaur A, Sharma M, Sharma R. Quantifying Dietary Diversity by Using Food Group Scores among Schoolchildren of Jaipur: A Seasonal Longitudinal Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(3):376-382.

Keywords: Food group scores; Nutritional counseling; Schoolchildren; Seasonal variation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean plaque scores according to season
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of plaque index according to season among study participants in the rural area
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of plaque index according to season among study participants in the urban area
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mean gingival scores according to season
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Comparison of the gingival index according to season among study participants in the rural area
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Comparison of gingival index according to season amongst study participants in urban area
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Mean food group scores according to season
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Comparison of food group score (FGS) according to season amongst study participants in rural area
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Comparison of food group score (FGS) according to season amongst study participants in urban area
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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