The study, published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, showed that merely 1% of kids between the ages of 13 and 18 years could recall having consumed dairy products over the past 24 hours. The study also showed that the teenagers in Gujarat do not seem to be getting enough dairy staples, which are considered the building blocks of good health in children. The study funded by UGC examined the nutrition transitions among 937 children in the 13–18 age group from six states, i.e., Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

The findings of the study were derived from two 24-hour diet recalls from the participants, and a Nutrition Transition Diet Score (NTDS) was used as an assessment index. Among all the states, the overall nutritional deviation was found to be the highest in children from Maharashtra, while the lowest was seen in Gujarat. In Gujarat, only 1% of the children surveyed stated that they had taken dairy products. On the other hand, only 2% enjoyed sodium-rich snacks. However, a significant percentage of children recalled eating fat-rich dishes (26%), and fried foods (30%).

In Tamil Nadu, a majority of children recalled eating foods with saturated fat (29%) and sodium-rich snacks (19%). Also, 4% added that they had sugar-sweetened beverages. In Maharashtra, a whopping 62% of the children claimed that they had bread, while 29% had added sugar to the food they were served. Only 11% remembered consuming dairy products. The study also pointed out that adolescents in Tamil Nadu had the highest daily energy intake at almost 2,045 kilocalories (kcal) per day. Their diet had 314 grams per day of carbohydrates, 54 grams per day of protein, and 64 grams per day of fat. The study was conducted by Dr. Nida Shaikh, a nutritionist from Georgia State University. She stated that in most cases, working parents, who are unable to provide home-cooked snacks, substitute them with packed/processed foods, resulting in metabolic syndrome among teenagers. Heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes are a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indi atimes.com/news/industry/fat-sodium-sugar-study-lists-unhealthy-diets-of-Indian-kids/93564390)