PD018 - DIETARY DIVERSITY AND MICRONUTRIENT ADEQUACY AMONG ADOLESCENT FEMALES - RURAL–URBAN SLUM DISPARITIES IN LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH

PD018

DIETARY DIVERSITY AND MICRONUTRIENT ADEQUACY AMONG ADOLESCENT FEMALES - RURAL–URBAN SLUM DISPARITIES IN LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH

R. Singh^1,*

¹Community Nutritionist, Nutritionpunch, Lucknow, India

Rationale: Adolescent girls in Uttar Pradesh face high risk of micronutrient deficiencies due to increased physiological demands, menstrual losses, and poor dietary diversity. Evidence from CNNS and NFHS-5 indicates a high burden of anemia and inadequate intake of iron, calcium, vitamin A, and folate. Socio-economic constraints and inequitable food environments further widen disparities between rural and urban slum populations in Lucknow.

Methods: An analytical review of Indian studies indexed in PubMed and Scopus, along with national datasets (CNNS, NFHS-5), was conducted. The review assessed dietary diversity using MDD-W framework and examined micronutrient adequacy (iron, calcium, vitamin A, folate). Comparative interpretation was done for rural and urban slum contexts, focusing on food access inequities.

Results: Findings consistently show low dietary diversity among adolescent girls, with a large proportion consuming fewer than 4–5 food groups. Iron deficiency affects nearly one-third of adolescent girls, while folate and calcium inadequacy are widespread. Urban slum populations exhibit higher intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, contributing to hidden hunger, whereas rural adolescents face limited access to diverse foods. Studies indicate a positive association between dietary diversity and improved micronutrient status, particularly hemoglobin levels.

Conclusion: Dietary diversity is a key determinant of micronutrient adequacy among adolescent girls. Rural–urban slum disparities in Lucknow are driven by structural food access inequities. Strengthening adolescent-focused nutrition programs through MDD-W–based monitoring, promotion of locally available nutrient-rich foods, and targeted behaviour change strategies is essential to address hidden hunger.

References: CNNS, India, 2019.

NFHS-5, 2021.

Kulkarni B et al., 2022.

Dhillon P et al., 2022.

Hanley-Cook GT et al., 2024.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared