In‐depth assessment of snacking behaviour in unmarried adolescent girls 16–19 years of age living in urban centres of Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period characterized by physical, social, and developmental changes that impact on health and eating behaviour. Indonesia is experiencing dramatic economic and infrastructural changes, causing greater access to the global food industry and media. This transition is influencing food intake trends, leading to new nutritional challenges in adolescent girls. Qualitative research was conducted between November 2016 and January 2017 in five urban sites in Java, Indonesia, to examine individual, social, environmental, and macrosystem factors affecting snacking behaviours in unmarried adolescent girls 16–19 years of age. Methods entailed 30 freelisting exercises, nine key informant interviews, and 16 in‐depth interviews. Freelisting results identified over 200 snack foods, with the most salient processed convenience foods such as chips and cookies. Respondents typically snacked multiple times daily. Widespread availability of affordable and “tasty” snacks makes snack foods appealing meal substitutes. Snacks provide a distraction to boredom and loneliness and an enhancement to social gatherings. Girls exhibited limited understanding or concern about potential negative effects of snacking. Parents facilitate acquisition of nutrient‐poor snacks, whereas friends exert pressure for routine consumption of snack foods. Social media infiltrated with promotions of eateries and snack foods is likely contributing to the preponderance of snack food consumption. Routine consumption of snack foods high in sugar, salt, and fat and skipping meals will likely have long‐term consequences on the nutritional status and health of Indonesian adolescent girls. Findings underline the urgent need to develop contextually relevant, targeted behavioural change strategies to modify the potentially harmful eating and activity patterns of adolescent girls identified in this study and to curb the trajectory of overweight in urban Indonesia.

Factors influencing obesogenic behaviours of adolescent girls and women in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A qualitative evidence synthesis

“…The full‐text review resulted in a total of 72 included references 56‐127 reporting on a total of 71 studies from 27 different countries, with 23 studies conducted in Africa, 34 in Asia, and 14 in South America. Figure 1 shows details of references screened, included and excluded, and Table 1 shows the general characteristics of the included studies.…”

Child-centered food systems: Reorienting food systems towards healthy diets for children

“…Availability and affordability are also particularly relevant to adolescents with agency to buy snacks for themselves on the way to and from school. For instance, adolescent girls in Indonesia explained during in-depth interviews how the wide availability of affordable and 'tasty' snacks made them appealing (Blum et al, 2019). Focus group discussions and interviews with 8-11-year-olds in Kenya indicated excess consumption of fast foods and sweetened beverages was due to the availability of cheap snacks in the environment surrounding the school (Kigaru et al, 2015).…”

Soy Flour-Based Snack Bar as Potential Snack Alternative for Diabetes Mellitus

“…Secondly, diet with lower GI/GL can be recommended to healthy individuals as a convenient alternative for a proportionate serving of a higher GI/GL snack bar; and can be considered as a reliable source of high-quality protein, fiber, and other nutrients, which may help with blood glucose regulation. This is important because unhealthy snacking is reported to be pervasive in Indonesia as well as among adolescent girls (Blum et al 2019). Within the study, it was reported that adolescent girls snack multiple times daily on foods high in sugar, salt, and fat (Blum et al 2019).…”

“…This is important because unhealthy snacking is reported to be pervasive in Indonesia as well as among adolescent girls (Blum et al 2019). Within the study, it was reported that adolescent girls snack multiple times daily on foods high in sugar, salt, and fat (Blum et al 2019).…”