EFFECT OF JUNK FOOD ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

EFFECT OF JUNK FOOD ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN * R. Kashyap 1, A. Joglekar 2 and S. Verma 1 1 Department of Home Science, Govt. Arts and Commerce Girls P. G. College, Devendran Nagar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India 2 Department of Home Science, Govt. D.B. Girls P.G. College Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Body needs proper fuel for top physical performance, high quality nutrients are thus necessary during training sessions, but mal nutrition during training as well as in routine adversely affect the physical performance. Changing life style of adolescent not only affects the nutritional status but also affect their physical performance. Inclination towards Junk food became a major health issues among adolescents. Junk food has popular among children and adolescents. It has little or no nutritional value. Junk food became popular among children and adolescent due to its attractive appearance, taste, convenient, low cost and easy to consume. Several studies carried out on adolescent s physical performance support the statement. Keeping this view in mind the present study was designed to assess the physical performance of adolescent boys and girls who are habitual of junk food. The study was carried out on 300 school going children between the age group of 13-17 years of Durg city. The result reveals that boys who were habitual and less habitual of junk food had significantly lower scores in jumping (M=109.66), (M=116.06) as compared to non habitual adolescent boys (M=133.40). We did not find any difference in girl s performance although boy s performance was better than girls. Key Words: Junk Food, Performance and Children INTRODUCTION Physical activity is an essential part of healthy life. Children of all ages love to spend their ample time in playing (Fleck, 2014). Nutrition can have a profound effect on the physical performance of kids as healthy child can be actively participate in sport; whereas unwell child with macro and micronutrient deficiency cannot perform better in sports (McNight, 2014). A person s diet not only impacts his physical performance, but also reflects his overall energy level (Brown, 2014). Adolescent children require a healthy diet with sufficient energy and other nutrients to be engaged in physical activity. Changing life styles not only affect the eating habit but also affect the physical performance. Junk food became the popular food among children these days. Junk foods are loaded with trans-fats, sugar and high calorie with low nutrients. It has been observed that children, do not understand the health consequences of due to their eating habits of junk food.junk food maybe appealing for a variety of reasons, including convenience, price and taste but it adversely affect the physical strength of children (Fleck, 2014). Regularly stuffing of junk food can make children addictive of it which leads to complications like overweight and obesity as well as their school performance and extracurricular activities. Excess body weight due to consumption of Junk-Food may excess fatigue during physical activities. It may also increase the risk of developing serious ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. While digestion process of junk food, pancreas has to work continuously to secrete large amount of insulin to prevent blood sugar spikes. Symptoms of diabetes include lethargy, blurred vision and numbness of the hands and feet, and all of these symptoms impact physical performance (Brown, 2014). Abstaining from junk foods is one way to keep cholesterol levels low and prevent clogged arteries, which can reverse the symptoms of heart disease and improve athletic performance (Fleck, 2014). A study on physical performance of adolescent shows that lack of physical activity reduces physical and mental well being of children which exclude children from social development. The Present study was aimed to find out the impact of junk food habits on physical performance of school going children. MATERIALS AND METHODS Selection of Samples A cross-sectional study was conducted in Durg city. After taking permission from education office, 7 schools were randomly selected for the study. A sample of 300 school going children (150 girls and 150 boys), aged 13-17 years were selected as a samples. The Selection of sample was done on the basis of Junk- food eating habit. 21

Junk Food Questionnaire General dietary habits were collected using pre tested Junk food questionnaire. On the basis of questionnaire, students were categorized as Junk Food Habitual (H), Junk Food Less Habitual (LH) and Junk Food Not Habitual (NH). Anthropometric Measurements Anthropometry is one of the most basic tools for assessing nutritional status, whether over-nutrition or under nutrition. There are several methods available to measure body fatness and body thinness. Amongst all measurements height and weight based measurements are the most commonly and practical tools used in community surveys, for assessing nutritional status. Height was measured without footwear by using anthropometer to nearest 0.1 cm and while measuring height subjects were asked to look straight. The student stood straight with heels, buttocks and back touching the vertical limb of the wall. Portable weighing machine was used to measure weight of children without shoes and wearing minimum necessary clothes. It was recorded to the nearest 0.5 kg. BMI The value of Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to grade chronic energy deficiency (CED). Body mass index was determined using the body weight (kg) and height (M) measurements using the following formula. Body weight (kg) BMI (Quetelet s index) = -------------------------- Height (m) 2 Physical Fitness Cooper Motor Fitness Test (1963) was used to assess the physical fitness of children. Statistical Analysis The nutritional anthropometric indices were calculated as per WHO classification to grade chronic energy deficiency. All the data were statistical analyzed by using mean, standard deviation and t-test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 and 2 shows distribution of samples according to BMI classification based on WHO criterion to differentiate the level of obesity. Table 1: Distribution of Boys to Eat Junk Food and BMI Categories (N=150) Categories of BMI Tendency to Eat Junk Food Total N (%) Habitual N (%) Less Habitual N (%) Non Habitual N (%) Underweight 92 (61.33) 32 (64) 30 (60) 30 (60) Normal 47 (31.33) 13 (26) 16 (32) 18 (36) Overweight and obese 11 (7.34) 5 (10) 4 (8) 2 (4) Table 1 shows that boys habitual to junk food were more obese (10%) and overweight as compared to other category. A study carried out by Jain in Bhilai support the present results, as the prevalence of obesity among school children was 8.4%and overweight was 23.8%. The overall result confirms that junk food habit affect the anthropometric measurements, either subject is habitual, less - habitual or not habitual. Table 2: Distribution of Girls to Eat Junk Food and BMI Categories (N=150) Categories of BMI Tendency to Eat Junk Food Total(150) Habitual (50) Less Habitual Non Habitual(50) N (%) N (%) (50) N (%) N (% ) Underweight 57 (38) 21 (42) 19 (38) 17 (34) Normal 81 (54) 28 (50) 24 (48) 29 (58) Overweight and obese 12 (8) 1 (2) 7 (14) 4 (8) Table 2 shows that girls who were less habitual of junk food were more obese and overweight as compare to other junk food habitual. The result shows that the ratio of obesity among junk food habitual girls was only 2%, where as 14% less habitual and 8% non habitual girls were found obese or overweight. The cause behind this may be due to hormonal changes in this stage and lack of physical activity by girls. The overall result reflects the effect of junk food consumption on fitness of adolescent children. 22

It is a known fact that junk food contains high calorie that contribute to weight gain and may develop high blood pressure and other lifestyle disease like diabetes. Changing life style of children and lack of physical activity decrease the physical work capacity. The results of jumping performance of boys on the basis of tendency of eating junk food are shown in table 3. Table 3: Jumping Performance of boys between 13-17 years of age on the Basis of Tendency to Eat Junk Food Tendency to Eat Junk Food N Jumping Performance t Habitual 50 109.66 18.26 Less Habitual 50 116.06 23.04 Habitual 50 109.66 18.26 Non Habitual 50 133.40 20.27 Less Habitual 50 116.06 23.04 Non Habitual 50 133.40 20.27 NS Not Significant; ** Significant at.01 level 1.53(NS) 6.15** 3.99** From the analysis of table 1, it can be stated that adolescent boys who are habituated to junk food have significantly lower scores in jumping (M=109.66) as compared to adolescent boys who are less habitual towards junk food (M=116.06) but the reported t=1.53 which is statistically insignificant, did not prove it statistically Table 3 also reveals that adolescent boys who are habituated to junk food have significantly lower scores in jumping (M=109.66) as compared to non habitual adolescent boys (M=133.40). The reported t=6.15, statistically confirms this finding. Entries reported in table 3 also shows that subjects who are less habitual towards junk food have significantly lower scores in jumping (M=116.06) as compared to non habitual adolescent boys (M=133.40). The reported t=3.99, statistically confirms this finding at.01 level of significance. Since, jumping performance of selected adolescent boys was found to differ significantly on the basis of their tendency to eat junk food. The results of running performance of boys on the basis of tendency to eat junk food are presented in table 4. Table 4: Running Performance of boys between 13-17 years of age on the Basis of Tendency to Eat Junk Food Tendency to Eat Junk Food N Running Performance t Habitual 50 14.28 2.77 Less Habitual 50 15.26 1.80 Habitual 50 14.28 2.77 Non Habitual 50 16.90 2.38 Less Habitual 50 15.26 1.80 Non Habitual 50 16.90 2.38 * Significant at.05 level; ** Significant at.01 level 2.09* 5.06** 3.87** From the analysis of table 4, it can be stated that adolescent boys who are habituated to junk food have significantly lower scores in running task (M=14.28) as compared to adolescent boys who are less habitual towards junk food (M=15.26). The reported t=2.09 which is statistically significant at.05 level, give weightage to this finding. Table 4 also reveals that adolescent boys who are habituated to junk food have significantly lower scores in running task (M=14.28) as compared to non habitual adolescent boys (M=16.90). The reported t=5.06, statistically confirms this finding. 23

Entries reported in table 4 also shows that subjects who are less habitual towards junk food have significantly lower scores in running performance (M=15.26) as compared to non habitual adolescent boys (M=16.90). The reported t=3.87, statistically confirms this finding at.01 level of significance. Since, running performance of selected adolescent boys was found to differ significantly on the basis of their tendency to eat junk food. Jumping performance of adolescent girls on the basis of tendency to eat junk food is presented in table 5. Table 5: Jumping Performance of girls between 13-17 years of age on the Basis of Tendency to Eat Junk Food Tendency to Eat Junk Food N Jumping Performance t Habitual 50 111.26 16.38 Less Habitual 50 110.48 15.02 0.24(NS) Habitual 50 111.26 16.38 Non Habitual 50 111.54 17.97 0.08(NS) Less Habitual 50 110.48 15.02 Non Habitual 50 111.54 17.97 0.32(NS) NS - Not Significant A closer look at statistical entries clearly indicate that the jumping of girls belonging to habitual, less habitual and non habitual categories did not differ significantly with each other. The values of t for habitual - less habitual (t=0.24), habitual - less habitual (t=0.08) and less habitual and non habitual (t=0.32) also shows the similar trend statistically. Since, jumping performance of selected adolescent girls did not differ significantly on the basis of their tendency to eat junk food. Table no.-6 depicts the running performance of adolescent girls on the basis of tendency to eat junk food. Table 6: Running Performance of girls between 13-17 years of age on the Basis of Tendency to Eat Junk Food Tendency to Eat Junk Food N Running Performance t Habitual 50 12.58 1.83 Less Habitual 50 12.50 1.90 0.21(NS) Habitual 50 12.58 1.83 Non Habitual 50 11.88 1.66 2.00* Less Habitual 50 12.50 1.90 Non Habitual 50 11.88 1.66 1.73(NS) NS Not Significant; * Significant at.05 level No statistically significant difference was observed in running performance of adolescent girls belonging to habitual and less habitual categories (t=0.21, p>.05). From the analysis of table 6, it can be stated that adolescent girls who are habituated to junk food have significantly higher scores in running task (M=12.58) as compared to adolescent girls who are non habituals (M=11.88). The reported t=2.00 which is statistically significant at.05 level, give weight age to this finding. No statistically significant difference was observed in running performance of adolescent girls belonging to less habitual and non habitual categories (t=0.32, p>.05). Since, running performance of selected adolescent girls did not differ significantly on the basis of their tendency to eat junk food. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that excess consumption of junk food can affect the physical as well as mental performance of children. Addiction of junk-food in early age may cause serious illness in later age. The present study reported the harmful effect of junk-food as overweight, low physical stamina and other health problems among adolescents. Several studies carried out on adolescent also reported the same results (Elsie et al., 2005; Jain et al., 2012 and Fleck, 2014). The study recommends that awareness programme should be regularly organised in each institution representing harmful effects of junk food. Similarly parents-teacher meet should be organised to motivate homemade-healthy foods. 24

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Author is thankful to Dr. Abhaya R. Joglekar, Professor, Department of Home-Science, D.B. Girls P.G. College, Raipur and Dr. S. Verma, Principal, Govt. Arts and Commerce Girls P.G. College, Devendra Nagar, Raipur (C.G.) for their kind guidance, motivation and unconditional support for this work. REFERENCES Brown T (2014). Junk Food vs. Physical Performance, Demand Media, Hearst communication, Inc. Elsie MT, Catherine SB, Shery LRS, David SL, Helaine RHR, Alison EF, Graham AC, Matthew WG (2005). Association of consumption of fried food away from home with body mass index and diet quality in older children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 116(4) 518-524. Fleck A (2014). How Junk Food Affects Children, Demand Media, Hearst communication, Inc. Jain G, Joglekar A & Bhardwaj S (2012). Prevalence of obesity among school children 13-17 years of bhilai. McNight C (2014). Nutrition, Cognitive & Physical Performance in Kids, Demand Media, Hearst communication, Inc. 25