A Study on Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude Towards Micronutrient Intake Practice’s Among Adolescent Girls in urban Patna, Bihar

Adolescence is a critical stage of growth and development during which proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices play a vital role in shaping long-term health outcomes. The present study was conducted to assess the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of adolescent girls in Patna, Bihar. Patna was purposively selected as the study area due to its rapid urbanization and educational infrastructure. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and a total of 150 adolescent girls aged 17–26 years were selected through random sampling from two colleges. Data on nutritional KAP were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies, while anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were taken to assess nutritional status. The results revealed that all participants were female, with the majority in the 17–20 years age group 76 (51.1 percent), unmarried 136 (90.7 percent), and residing in urban areas 111 (74.0 percent). More than half of the respondents were underweight 76 (51.1 percent), while 35 (23.3 percent) were overweight, 15 (10.0 percent) obese, and only 24 (16.0 percent) had normal BMI. Regarding nutritional knowledge, most had heard of micronutrients 126 (84.0 percent), recognized the importance of a balanced diet 135 (90.0 percent), and knew that calcium is essential for bone health 127 (84.6 percent). However, misconceptions were evident, as 78 (52.0 percent) considered fast food a good source of nutrients and 85 (56.0 percent) believed sugary drinks provide essential nutrients. Attitude findings showed that although 122 (81.3 percent) valued dietary variety and 136 (90.0 percent) emphasized the role of exercise, unhealthy practices persisted: 110 (73.3 percent) preferred fast food, 95 (63.3 percent) believed skipping breakfast controls weight, and 123 (82.0 percent) consumed snacks instead of fruits. The study concludes that while adolescents possessed moderate nutritional knowledge and positive attitudes towards health, unhealthy dietary practices were common. This coexistence of awareness with poor habits highlights the need for strengthened school-based nutrition education, improved access to affordable healthy foods, and behavior change interventions to promote better dietary choices among adolescent girls.