Association of malnutrition and main-meal- and snack-predominant intake among female adolescent students in boarding schools in Tasikmalaya, Indonesia.

This article investigates the association between predominant dietary intake—main meals versus snacks—and the nutritional status of female adolescent students aged 12–18 years residing in Islamic boarding schools in Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. The cross-sectional study of 323 participants found that 18.3% were overweight or obese (OW/OB) and 31.6% were stunted. Snack-predominant dietary intake was significantly associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity but was inversely associated with stunting, while main-meal predominance was more common among stunted adolescents. The study also identified pocket money as a factor linked to overweight/obesity and maternal education as associated with stunting. These findings suggest that nutritional interventions in boarding schools should tailor the composition of both main meals and snacks to address the dual burden of malnutrition among female adolescents.