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

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<0.05) while girls had more %CHO and %energy from added sugar (p<0.05). Food-secure children consumed higher %Fat than food-insecure children (p<0.05). PS children had more %CHO and less %Prot ein, %Fat and %SF than NS children (p<0.05). In conclusion, 11-13 year old-children in Colombo city consume desirable level of CHO and cholesterol, although their dietary energy consumption from protein is inadequate. However, they consu me undesirably high level of SF and added sugar while dietary fibre intake is very low.