Computer Based Intervention (CBI) to Prevent Fast Food Consumption and Create Awareness on Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescents

Adolescents constitute 25% of Indian population. Investing the adolescent's education, health, and rights will yield great benefits for generations to come. Experts believe that most of the eating habits, including preference for and reliance on fast food are formed in childhood and track into adolescence and adulthood. Adolescent healthcare should be seriously overlooked which demands more knowledge, skill, and support to understand good nutrition. Information and communication technologies have revolutionalised our society especially adolescents. There is a growing recognition that "adolescent friendly" nutrition intervention strategies are needed and they are adequately provided to ensure a preventative and curative health care of adolescent age.

In order to achieve this goal, the present research tries to impart an educational intervention on the importance of healthy food habits, good nutrition and health hazards of consuming fast food, using a computer based intervention package.

First phase of the present research was the preparation and production of the computer based intervention(CBI) package. Schools were identified and the permission to conduct the intervention and assessment of the pre and post- awareness of adolescents of the participating schools were also obtained. Pre and post nutrition knowledge measurement questionnaire was prepared and assessment was conducted at the selected schools.

Comparison of nutrition awareness before and after the intervention programs revealed that the nutritional awareness of the adolescents improved dramatically after the CBI sessions. More than 97 percent of the participants remarked that the CBI package was informative, interesting, and relevant.

The study suggested the need of active participation and involvement of governmental agencies, NGOs, schools, healthcare professionals, teachers, and parents to organize the nutrition dissemination on a regular basis from multiple sources and in various formats. Thus adolescents should be made aware and responsible their health and equip them to live their life healthy and happy.