Determinants of salt intake in young females

Abstract:

Salt is an essential nutrient required for maintaining physiological functions such as nerve transmission, muscular contractions, and fluid balance; however, excessive consumption has become a growing public health concern. Increasing urbanization and reliance on consumption of processed foods have significantly increased the salt intake, particularly among young females, making them a vulnerable group for associated health risks. The current study aims to investigate the levels of salt intake among young females and identify the key factors influencing their consumption patterns. A total of 100 females aged 20-30 years were selected using random sampling technique. A self-constructed questionnaire was used in the study to collect data comprising 22 items across five domains: emotional and situational triggers, taste preferences, social norms and peer influence, cultural and structural determinants, and cognitive and behavioral patterns. Responses were recorded on a three-point Likert scale and analyzed using frequency, percentage, and mean scores. The findings revealed that only 13% of participants had satisfactory salt intake, while 62% exhibited moderately high and 25% very high intake levels. Among the influencing factors, cognitive and behavioral patterns had the highest impact (mean= 12.78), followed by emotional triggers (10.81), indicating a strong gap between awareness and actual behavior. Social norms and peer influence (8.60) also contributed notably, whereas taste preference showed the least influence. Hence, the study shows that complex interaction of psychological, social, and behavioral factors plays a major role for the excessive salt consumption among young females. The study also highlights the alarming need for targeted, behavior-focused interventions to promote healthier dietary practices and reduce long-term health risks.