Food Intake, Dietary Quality and Nutritional Status of Female Adolescent in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia

Introduction: Poor nutritional status of female adolescents does not only have an impact on themselves but also have an impact on the next generation. Food intake and dietary quality are important to support nutritional status during adolescence. This study aims to determine the relationship between food intake and dietary quality with nutritional status of female adolescent in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: This research was an observational study using a cross-sectional design. The subjects of this study were female adolescents aged 12-18 years with a total sample of 222 people. Data of food intake and dietary quality were measured using recall method, while nutritional status data were calculated using BMI for Age Z scores (BAZ). A linear regression model was used to predict the relationship of food intake and dietary quality to the nutritional status of female adolescents. Results: The average BAZ was 0.1±1.0, with an average dietary quality of 34.6±6.6%. The average energy intake was 1507.9±472.3 kcal, protein 32.4±11.0 g, carbohydrates 258.6±84.4 g, fat 44.9±19.9 g and fiber 3.88±2.7 g. Food intake (energy, protein, and fiber) and dietary quality were related to nutritional status (BAZ) in female adolescents (p<0.05). Conclusion: The balance of food intake and dietary quality is important to maintain the nutritional status of female adolescent properly. Nutritional interventions are needed to support female adolescent entering pregnancy with good nutritional status.