TITLE OF THE STUDY A study on the changing food habits and health problems among youth.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The globalised market system across the world has promoted business between nations. Along with the sale of products, culture and lifestyle also get exchanged. The transforming pattern of food habits in youth in our nation is also influenced by this factor. Along with that busy schedules of family members in nuclear way of living also contribute to the change. Changing food habits would not have been a problem, if its healthier to change. But its not. The new foods served in the table of these young people are unhealthier compared to traditional food items of our nation. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The effects of changing food habits of youngsters are found to be very serious. Therefore the purpose of our study is to find out the exact reasons, problems faced and the awareness level about the harmful effects of adopting new food habits among youngsters. When the Western junk food businesses are losing business to healthier foods in their nations, India is the emerging big scope for them, where people already lost their cultural habits of food. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Changing food habits of youngsters involve consumption of fast food and junk food. Fast food is a term given for all food items which can be made and served quickly. It refers to food available restaurants or stores that contain preheated or precooked ingredients. They are often served to customers in form of packs or take away. Junk food is described as food of little nutritional value which contains high level of fat sugar and calories. The term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of centre for science in public interest in 1972. In most of the cases the fast foods such as Hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps, rolls etc prove to be junk due to their low nutritional value or unhealthy ingredients in them. Obesity, cholesterol, diabetics, cardio vascular diseases, liver diseases are positively correlated to the

consumption of junk foods. Major players in the business include Mc Donalds, Subway, Dominos etc. Fast foods have been processed and refined in such a way that they have zero fiber levels and lost the nutrients. They are poor in digestive tract. Enzyme activity cannot be performed on these food materials hence it will affect the digestion in mouth and stomach. Snacks contain high level of preservatives, coloring agents. Soft drinks like pepsi, coca cola etc have high level of sugar and color. Margarine contain Trans fat and causes coronary diseases as well as risk of cancer. Junk food affects the energy levels. Consumers will feel chronically fatigued. High level of sugar puts the body metabolism under stress. High levels of fat and sodium causes high BP and hyper tension. Excessive sodium content will lead to improper renal function and even kidney failure. Heart diseases are also the ill effects of junk foods. They build arterial plaque which will contribute to blood cholesterol. Junk food does not contain required levels of protein or complex carbohydrates that your body needs to maintain consistent blood sugar levels. These are the major ill effects of consuming fast foods and junk foods. Consumption of these food items is positively related to health hazards discussed. The traditional food habits do not involve unfavorable levels of sugar, fat, calories. Hence it is healthier compared to fast foods and junk foods. However over eating of traditional food also lead to obesity and diet problems.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE A study on Food habits among the educated youth of Tharu and Buksa tribes was conducted by Mr.Subhash Chandra Verma, Department of Sociology and Mr. Girja Shankar Yadav, Department of Statistics of Government Post Graduate College, Rudrapur (U. S. Nagar) 263153 Uttrakhand, India. An extract of the same have taken and explained detail as follows: The researchers studied about food habits of the educated Tharu and Buksa youth. 76 Tharu and 40 Buksa (total of 116) youth were interviewed for this study. They found that some Tharu and Buksas youth are ignoring their traditional food and accepting some fast foods rapidly. The Tharu and Buksa people were non-vegetarians traditionally. They also like milk and milk-products. 92.24% youth used non-vegetarian foods; only 7.76% youth were vegetarians. Female youth were more (15%) than males (3.95%) in vegetarians category. 96.05% males and 85% females used non-vegetarian foods normally. The Tharu and Buksas youth that is studying in the cities like to eat fast foods. Chinese fast foods like Chowmin, Indian Dosa, Chat-Pakoda and other packed food were popular in Tharu and Buksas.

METHODOLOGY Scientific research method has been used in this study, and findings were presented in descriptive research design. Interview and closed ended questionnaire have been used as research tool for primary data collection. There are 116 Tharu and Buksa students registered in Government Post Graduate College Rudrapur District Udham Singh Nagar of Uttrakhand. This study has completed between 21st - 25th July 2009. These TharuBuksa students were taken as research universe. Totally 116 students (76 Tharus and 40 Buksas) were taken for this study. FINDINGS They found out that the educated youth of the Tharu and Buksa communities have both traditional and new food habits. Some youth have ignored their own traditional food trends, but some youth are still respecting their culture and traditional food trends. Effects of other
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cultures and education were the main reasons of changing food habits. Maximum TharuBuksa youth were non-vegetarians and they also like milk and milk-products. There is no major difference between male and female about food habits. Majority of the youth like fastfood but they cannot afford it daily. So, they used normal and traditional food in daily life but they enjoy with fast-food weekly. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY General objective To examine the changing pattern of food habits among the youth and the problems due to the change in food habits. Specific objectives To find out whether there is any change in the food habits of the youth. To analyse the reasons for the change in food habits among youth. To understand the awareness level about the harmful effects of consuming junk foods among youth. To examine the problems due to change in food habits among youth.

HYPOTHESIS Changing food habits is the major reason of the health issues among youth.